SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas; Targeted Flora Surveys June, July and September 2011
15 March 2012 Version 2 (Final) maia.net.au
SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
This document describes the vegetation and flora recorded during targeted flora surveys carried out for Sinosteel Midwest Corporation in June, July and September 2011 on tenements M59/595 and M59/596 at Mungada West and East at Blue Hills. It also discusses the significance of the flora and vegetation of the Infrastructure Areas surveyed and estimates impacts to the significant flora and vegetation of these areas.
Maia Environmental Consultancy Pty Ltd ABN 25 141 503 184 PO Box 1213 Subiaco WA 6904
Document Prepared By: Rochelle Haycock and Scott Hitchcock Document Reviewed By: Christina Cox Document Revision Number: 2 (Final) Date: 15 March 2012
This document has been prepared for Sinosteel Midwest Corporation Limited (SMC) by Maia Environmental Consultancy Pty Ltd (Maia). Copyright and any intellectual property associated with the document belong to Maia and Sinosteel Midwest Corporation. The document may not be reproduced or distributed to any third party by any physical or electronic means without the permission of SMC or Maia.
SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1
1.1 BACKGROUND ...... 1 1.2 PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK ...... 1 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ...... 2
2.1 DATABASE AND LITERATURE SEARCHES ...... 2 2.2 SURVEY METHOD ...... 2 2.3 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANT SPECIES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT BLUE HILLS ...... 3 2.4 LAND SYSTEMS ...... 3 2.5 BEARD’S VEGETATION MAPPING ...... 4 2.6 VEGETATION OF THE STUDY AREA AND SURROUNDS ...... 5 3 RESULTS ...... 9
3.1 SPECIES RECORDED ...... 9 3.2 RANGE EXTENSIONS...... 9 3.3 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANT FLORA ...... 9 3.3.1 Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ...... 9 3.3.2 Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act (1950-1979) ...... 9 3.3.3 Priority Flora ...... 11 3.4 INTRODUCED FLORA ...... 14 3.4.1 Weeds of National Significance ...... 14 3.4.2 Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 ...... 14 3.4.3 Environmental Weeds ...... 14 3.5 VEGETATION ...... 15 3.6 VEGETATION CONDITION ...... 19 3.7 ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES ...... 19 4 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE ...... 20
4.1 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE: FLORA ...... 20 4.1.1 Regional Significance ...... 20 4.1.2 Local Significance ...... 23 4.1.3 Summary of Regional and Local Significance: Flora ...... 23 4.2 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE: VEGETATION ...... 24 4.2.1 Regional Significance ...... 24 4.2.2 Local Significance ...... 25 4.2.3 Summary of Regional and Local Significance: Vegetation ...... 27 4.3 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE: ECOSYSTEMS ...... 27 5 IMPACTS ...... 28
5.1 IMPACTS TO CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANT SPECIES ...... 28 5.2 IMPACTS TO VEGETATION ...... 30 5.3 IMPACTS TO LAND SYSTEMS ...... 30 5.4 IMPACTS TO BEARD’S VEGETATION ASSOCIATIONS ...... 30 5.5 IMPACTS TO FCTS ...... 31
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5.5.1 Impacts from the New Infrastructure Areas ...... 32 5.5.2 Cumulative Impacts ...... 32 5.6 IMPACTS TO PEC ...... 34 5.7 SUMMARY OF IMPACT TO SIGNIFICANT SPECIES AND FCTS ...... 34 6 CONCLUSIONS ...... 36 7 PROJECT TEAM ...... 37 8 REFERENCES ...... 38 9 FIGURES ...... 41
TABLES TABLE 2.1: LAND SYSTEMS, LANDFORMS AND VEGETATION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS 3 TABLE 2.2: VEGETATION ASSOCIATIONS MAPPED BY BEARD IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREA 4 TABLE 2.3: BEARD’S VEGETATION ASSOCIATIONS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS - PAST AND CURRENT EXTENT AND RESERVATION STATUS 4 TABLE 2.4: VEGETATION ASSOCIATIONS MAPPED AT BLUE HILLS BY BENNETT CONSULTING ECOLOGISTS (2004) 5 TABLE 2.5: FCTS ON SMC’S BLUE HILLS TENEMENTS - WOODMAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING (2008) 6 TABLE 2.6: FCTS DESCRIBED BY MARKEY AND DILLON (2008) 7 TABLE 3.1: WEEDS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS 15 TABLE 3.2: WOODMAN’S FLORISTIC COMMUNITY TYPES (FCT) OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS 16 TABLE 4.1: REGIONAL AND LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRIORITY FLORA RECORDED IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS 23 TABLE 4.2: LAND SYSTEMS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS 24 TABLE 4.3: BEARD’S VEGETATION MAPPING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS 25 TABLE 4.4: LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE OF FCTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS 26 TABLE 4.5: REGIONAL AND LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VEGETATION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS 27 TABLE 5.1: ESTIMATED IMPACTS TO CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANT FLORA IN THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AREA 29 TABLE 5.2: ESTIMATED CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO ACACIA WOODMANIORUM AND LEPIDOSPERMA SP. BLUE HILLS 29 TABLE 5.3: IMPACTS TO LAND SYSTEMS 30 TABLE 5.4: BEARD’S VEGETATION ASSOCIATIONS 30 TABLE 5.5: IMPACTS TO FLORISTIC COMMUNITY TYPES (FCTS) IN THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS 31 TABLE 5.6: CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO FCTS BY SMC’S AND GINDALBIES OPERATIONS 33
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FIGURES
FIGURE 9.1: GENERAL LOCATION OF BLUE HILLS SURVEY AREA 42 FIGURE 9.2: BLUE HILLS MUNGADA WEST AND EAST SURVEY AREAS 43 FIGURE 9.3: BENNETT’S VEGETATION MAPPING SMC TENEMENTS 44 FIGURE 9.4: WOODMAN’S VEGETATION MAPPING SMC TENEMENTS 45 FIGURE 9.5: ACACIA WOODMANIORUM RECORDED IN INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS-BLANK AND AERIAL BACKGROUND 46 FIGURE 9.6: PRIORITY FLORA RECORDED IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS – BLANK AND AERIAL BACKGROUNDS 48 FIGURE 9.7: WEEDS SPECIES RECORDED WITHIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AREAS – BLANK AND AERIAL BACKGROUNDS 50 FIGURE 9.8: ACACIA WOODMANIORUM (T) RECORDED IN THE WIDER AREA - BLANK AND AERIAL BACKGROUNDS 52 FIGURE 9.9: PRIORITY FLORA RECORDED IN THE WIDER AREA – BLANK AND AERIAL BACKGROUNDS 54
APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: RESULTS OF DATABASE AND LITERATURE SEARCHES 56 APPENDIX 2: FLORA SPECIES RECORDED 65 APPENDIX 3: CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE – FLORA AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES 70 APPENDIX 4: PRIORITY FLORA LOCATIONS 78 APPENDIX 5: DECLARED PLANTS CONTROL CODES 82
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Summary
Introduction Sinosteel Midwest Corporation Limited was granted approval to mine direct shipping ore from Mungada West and East within its Blue Hills mining tenements under Ministerial Statement 811, published by the Environmental Protection Agency in November 2009. SMC wishes to increase the size of the pits and waste dumps at both Mungada West and East and also to construct associated infrastructure to support the two mine areas. A section 45c is to be lodged seeking approval to amend the areas approved at Blue Hills under MS 811. Maia Environmental Consultancy Pty Ltd was contracted to carry out a targeted flora survey over the approximately 44 ha of these additional areas (Infrastructure Areas). Surveys Database and literature searches were carried out before the surveys. The targeted flora surveys were not carried out over the areas already surveyed for the original project approvals. The surveys were carried out by three botanists with experience of the flora and vegetation of the area on selected days between June 17-26, July 13-15 and September 14-27, 2011. The botanists surveyed the polygons walking transects from 10 to 15 m apart depending on the density of the vegetation and on the topography of the area being surveyed. Transects were also walked outside of the Infrastructure Areas to gather comparative data on numbers of significant flora species recorded within the Infrastructure Areas. Vegetation in quadrats was not assessed as Woodman Environmental Consulting has already mapped the vegetation on Gindalbie and SMC tenements at Blue Hills and Maia was able to use the data from this mapping. Flora One hundred and seventy-nine taxa from 104 genera and 46 families were recorded from areas surveyed within and outside the Infrastructure Areas. The families with the highest number of taxa were Fabaceae (29), Asteraceae (24) and Myrtaceae (17). The genera with the highest number of taxa were Acacia (21), Eremophila (6), Eucalyptus and Melaleuca (5 each). Dianella revoluta var. revoluta was identified as a range extension in the Infrastructure Areas. No flora species protected by Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act were located in the Infrastructure Areas. One species protected by the Wildlife Conservation Act was located within the Infrastructure Areas – Acacia woodmaniorum (Vulnerable). Four Priority species were located within the Infrastructure Areas – Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (Priority 1), Drummondita fulva, Micromyrtus trudgenii and Persoonia pentasticha (all Priority 3). No weeds of national significance were located within the Infrastructure Areas. While not located within the Infrastructure Areas Echium plantagineum - (Patterson’s Curse) – has been located around and within the existing pit and waste dump at Mungada East in previous surveys. One environmental weed species was recorded within the Infrastructure
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Areas - Arctotheca calendula. Vegetation Five of the floristic community types mapped by Woodman Environmental Consulting on Gindalbie and SMC tenements occur in the Infrastructure Areas: FCTs 1a, 12, 13 and 14 along with mosaics of FCTs 1a/2 and 4/17. Areas of degraded land were also mapped within the Infrastructure Areas. Vegetation condition in the Infrastructure Areas ranged from Degraded to Very Good. Disturbed areas included the existing pits and waste dumps at both Mungada East and Mungada West. Dust and rubbish were noted on and within the vegetation along an existing haul road, and there are more recent and old exploration sites in the area. The effects of goat grazing were also evident, particularly around the existing pits. The Priority 1 Blue Hills (Mount Karara / Mungada Ridge / Blue Hills) vegetation complexes (banded ironstone formation) priority ecological community is mapped over large areas of Blue Hills and some of the Infrastructure Areas fall within the boundaries of the PEC. Conservation Significance and The regional and local conservation significance of the Threatened and Priority Impacts – Flora Flora species located in the Infrastructure Areas is summarised in Section 4.1 of this report. Estimated impact to each of the conservation significant flora species located within the new Infrastructure Areas is less than 7% and ranges from 0.01% (Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills) to 6.53% (Acacia woodmaniorum). The cumulative impact to Acacia woodmaniorum (9.22%) and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (0.14%) from SMC operations alone is estimated to be 10%; however when impacts from Gindalbie and SMC operations are estimated, the cumulative impacts are 12.59% to A. woodmaniorum and 68.8% to Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills. The regional and local conservation significance of the vegetation of the Conservation Survey Corridor is summarised in Section 4.2 of this report. Significance and Potential impacts from the proposed works on land systems, significant flora Impacts – and vegetation of the Infrastructure Areas are discussed in the report and Vegetation summarised in Section 5.7. Impacts to FCTs from the new Infrastructure Areas only, and calculated using the area mapped within SMC’s tenements (i.e. the local area) are all below 10%. When impacts to FCTs are calculated based on the wider area (the total area mapped by Woodman Environmental) they are all below 3%. Cumulative impact to the FCTs mapped within SMC’s tenements are less than 16%. and when calculated based on the wider area, are all below 5%. When the cumulative impacts from both SMC and Gindalbie operations are calculated, they are higher and range from 5.88% to 65.08%. The cumulative impacts from SMC’s pre-approved and new Infrastructure areas on the PEC will be 1.6%. Conclusions The five significant flora species located within the Infrastructure Areas also occur outside the Infrastructure Areas in large numbers. The three significant FCTs of the Infrastructure Areas are also mapped outside the Infrastructure Areas. The highest estimated impact to a FCT or significant flora species is 15.87% when impact calculations are based on the local area (i.e. significant species
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and FCTs occurring in SMC’s tenements). These impacts become less than 5% when calculations are based on the wider area surveyed by Woodman and Maia on both Gindalbie and SMC tenements.Cumulative impacts from SMC and Gindalbie operations on Acacia woodmaniorum and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills are high at 12.59 and 68.82% respectively. Cumulative impacts from SMC and Gindalbie operations on the significant FCTs of the area are high at 10.85% (FCT12), 56.10% (FCT13) and 65.08% (FCT14). Cumulative impacts from SMC operations on the PEC will be 1.6%. Should approval be granted for the proposed expansion, and given the conservation significance of the vegetation and flora species of the Infrastructure Areas and surrounds, SMC should adhere to the management measures detailed in its Environmental Management Plan for the Blue Hills project. SMC should pay particular attention to: demarcation of clearing boundaries, the use of a ground disturbance permitting system, dust suppression measures, weed control procedures, restrictions on off road driving and fire prevention measures to reduce indirect impacts to the vegetation and flora of the PEC from the proposed activities.
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SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas TARGETED FLORA SURVE Y JUNE , JULY AND SEPT EMBER 2 0 1 1
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Sinosteel Midwest Corporation Limited (SMC) was granted approval to mine direct shipping ore from Mungada West and East within its Blue Hills mining tenements under Ministerial Statement (MS) 811, published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in November 2009. However, SMC wishes to increase the size of the pits and waste dumps at both Mungada West and East and also to construct associated infrastructure to support the two mine areas. A section 45c is to be lodged with the EPA seeking approval to amend the areas approved under MS 811.
Under Schedule 1 of MS 811 the following original areas were approved (EPA, 2009):
Mine haematite from an area of 5.3 ha on Mining Lease 59/595 at Mungada West in the Shire of Perenjori and construct one waste dump; and Mine haematite from an area of 6.4 ha on Mining Lease 59/596 at Mungada East in the Shire of Perenjori and construct one waste dump.
At Mungada East the vegetation clearing is a maximum of 18.8 ha and the pre-disturbed area is 6.4 ha while at Mungada West vegetation clearing is a maximum of 22 ha and the pre-disturbed area is 5.3 ha (EPA, 2009).
Mungada West and East at Blue Hills are located approximately 60 km north-east of Perenjori and 85 km east of Morawa (Figure 9.1, Section 9).
1.2 Project Scope of Work Maia Environmental Consultancy Pty Ltd (Maia) was contracted to carry out a targeted flora survey over the approximately 44 ha of the additional areas at Blue Hills (Infrastructure Areas). The targeted flora survey was not carried out over the areas already surveyed by Ecologia (2008a) for the original project approvals (Figure 9.2, Section 9).
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2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
2.1 Database and Literature Searches Before carrying out the survey, searches were conducted of the following databases:
EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool (DSEWPaC, 2011a); NatureMap (DEC, 2011a).
The following co-ordinates were used for the searches:
-29 07 35 S, 116 52 35 E (GDA94. MGA50).
A 20 km radius buffer was used around the coordinates for the NatureMap search and a 10 km radius buffer when using the Protected Matters Search Tool.
Available literature was also searched for conservation significant flora previously recorded in the area.
The results of the database searches are discussed in Section 2.3. A list of conservation significant flora species produced by the database searches and in included in other reports on surveys carried out in the area is included as Table A1.1 (Appendix 1).
2.2 Survey Method The surveys were carried out by three botanists with experience of the flora and vegetation of the area between June 17-26, July 13-15 and selected days between September 14-27, 2011. Shape files for the areas to be surveyed were supplied to Maia before going to site and uploaded onto handheld GPSs. The areas surveyed are shown in Figure 9.2, Section 9.
The botanists surveyed the polygons walking transects from 10 to 15 m apart depending on the density of the vegetation and on the topography of the area being surveyed. Transects were also walked outside of the Infrastructure Areas to gather comparative data on numbers of significant flora species recorded within the Infrastructure Areas. Transects outside the Infrastructure Areas were chosen based on the habitats within which conservation significant flora species were recorded in the Infrastructure Areas.
Before carrying out the surveys, the botanists familiarised themselves with the known conservation significant flora species of the area; while carrying out the surveys the botanists targeted conservation significant flora and weed species. Locations of known and potential conservation significant flora and weed species were recorded on a GPS and their numbers counted. Specimens of each conservation significant species encountered during the survey were collected for post-survey taxonomic verification.
Notes were made on the vegetation and its condition within the Infrastructure Areas and photographs were taken; however, vegetation in quadrats was not assessed as Woodman Environmental Consulting (Woodman, 2008) has already mapped the vegetation on Gindalbie’s and SMC’s tenements and Maia was able to use the data from this mapping.
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2.3 Conservation Significant Species Previously Recorded at Blue Hills The Blue Hills Ranges are located in the Yalgoo Bioregion. Currently, 13 records exist for Threatened species and 171 records for Priority Flora species in the Yalgoo Bioregion (FloraBase, 2012).
Three Threatened species have been recorded previously at Blue Hills. Two of these (Acacia woodmaniorum and Stylidium sp. Yalgoo (D. Coultas et al. Opp 01)) have been recorded either within or close to SMC’s tenements at Blue Hills during previous surveys carried out in the area (Markey & Dillon, 2008; Ecologia, 2007; Woodman Environmental Consultants, 2008) (Table A1.1, Appendix 1).
The annual species Stylidium sp. Yalgoo has been recorded at locations outside the boundary of SMC’s tenements.
Thirty-three Priority Flora species including nine Priority 1 species, four Priority 2 and 20 Priority 3 species have been recorded previously at or adjacent to Blue Hills (Table A1.1, Appendix 1).
The DEC recorded 14 currently listed Priority Flora species during its survey of the central extent of the Tallering Land System (Markey & Dillon, 2008) (Table A1.1, Appendix 1).
Twenty-one currently listed Priority Flora species were recorded by Woodman Environmental Consulting (2008) during multiple surveys around Blue Hills (Table A1.1, Appendix 1). Thirteen of these 21 species were recorded within SMC tenements.
Ecologia (2007) recorded six Priority Flora species during a targeted flora survey of proposed exploration drilling areas at Blue Hills and one Priority Flora species during a targeted flora survey of areas proposed for a hydrological drilling programme at Blue Hills (Table A1.1, Appendix 1) (Ecologia, 2008b).
2.4 Land Systems The Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) produced an inventory and condition survey of the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find area of Western Australia and mapped the land systems (LS) occurring in the area (Payne et al., 1998). Two LS occur within the Infrastructure Areas and these and associated land forms and vegetation are described in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1: Land Systems, Landforms and Vegetation of the Infrastructure Areas
Land System Landform and Vegetation
Prominent ridges and hills of banded ironstone, dolerite and sedimentary rocks Tallering supporting bowgada and other acacia shrublands.
Sandy plains supporting shrublands of mulga and bowgada with patchy wanderrie Yowie grasses.
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2.5 Beard’s Vegetation Mapping Blue Hills is located in the Yalgoo Subregion of the Austin Botanical District within the Eremaean Botanical Province (Beard, 1976). The vegetation of the Infrastructure Areas was mapped as part of the Murchison Region mapping at a scale of 1:1 000 000 by Beard (1976), and the Infrastructure Areas are located in the southern Murchison Region. Beard’s vegetation mapping has been digitised and updated by DAFWA (2010). The vegetation within the Infrastructure Areas has been mapped into two broad structural vegetation associations (Table 2.2).
Table 2.2: Vegetation Associations Mapped By Beard in the Infrastructure Area
Broad Floristic Vegetation Beard Code Formation (NVIS Sub-association Description (NVIS Level 6) Association Code Level 3)
Acacia ramulosa, Acacia quadrimarginea, Acacia Acacia open a9,14Si 358.5 acuminata, Hakea preissii and Dodonaea shrubland inaequifolia Tall Open Shrubland
Eucalyptus loxophleba and/or Eucalyptus oleosa Acacia open e6,22Lr a9,19Si 355.2 Isolated Low Trees with Acacia aneura and Acacia shrubland ramulosa Tall Open Shrubland
Note: NVIS = National Vegetation Information Systems (ESCAVI, 2003).
The Austin Botanical District is dominated by low mulga (Acacia aneura) woodland on the plains and reduced to Acacia scrub on the hills (Beard, 1976). The vegetation of the hills is dominated by shrublands of Acacia aneura, Acacia quadrimarginea, Acacia ramulosa and Acacia grasbyi over Senna and Eremophila shrubs.
The Government of Western Australia (2010) has calculated the pre-European extent of Beard’s vegetation units, the current extent of Beard’s vegetation units, how much of each association lies in reserves and how much in pastoral leases managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). The data for the vegetation associations of the Infrastructure Areas are included in Table 2.3.
More than 50% of these two vegetation associations is currently represented in reserves or pastoral leases. More than 77% and 99% (respectively) of Beard’s units a9,14Si and e6,22Lr a9,19Si currently remain (Government of Western Australia, 2010).
Table 2.3: Beard’s Vegetation Associations of the Infrastructure Areas - Past and Current Extent and Reservation Status
Beard Code (and IUCN class 1-4 Pastoral Leases Vegetation Pre-European Current Extent Reserves + Remaining (%) Managed by DEC Association Extent (ha) (ha) Former (%) Code) Leasehold a9,14Si (358.5) 4,945.37 3,828.23 77.41 50.50 95.81 e6,22Lr a9,19Si 23,534.94 23,521.70 99.94 73.67 73.67 (355.2)
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2.6 Vegetation of the Study Area and Surrounds Bennett Consulting Ecologists (2004) carried out a flora and vegetation survey of SMC’s Blue Hills tenements for ATA in October 2003. Bennett assessed 29 quadrats and 13 relevés and mapped 15 vegetation associations over the two tenements (Figure 9.3, Section 9). Bennett’s vegetation descriptions have been updated using National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) methodology at the association level, Level 5 (Table 2.4).
Table 2.4: Vegetation Associations Mapped at Blue Hills by Bennett Consulting Ecologists (2004)
Vegetation Habitat Vegetation Association (NVIS Level 5) Code
Hills and Tall Shrubland of Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa with a Low Sparse Shrubland of AaPo slopes Philotheca sericea and Sparse Forbland of Asteraceae species. Hills and Sparse Tall Shrubland of Acacia aneura with a Sparse Low Shrubland of Philotheca Aan slopes sericea. Hills and Sparse Tall Shrubland of Allocasuarina acutivalvis subsp. prinsepiana, Calycopeplus ApCp slopes pauciflorus, Melaleuca nematophylla and Acacia species. Hills and Tall Shrubland of Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa with a Sparse Low Shrubland of Arr slopes Philotheca sericea and Open Forbland of Asteraceae species. Deg Degraded Degraded areas, mined previously. Open Low Woodland to Low Woodland of Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba EL Calcrete with a Low Shrubland of Logania sp. Open Mallee Forest of Eucalyptus kochii subsp. plenissima and Eucalyptus ewartiana Ek Sandy flats with a Tall Shrubland of Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa and Sparse Forbland of Asteraceae species. Hills and Low Woodland to Low Open Forest of Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba with a El slopes Chenopod Shrubland of Chenopodiaceae species. Hills and Mallee Woodland of of Eucalyptus leptopoda with a Sparse Tall Shrubland of Acacia Ele slopes ramulosa var. ramulosa +/- Acacia aneura and Open Forbland of mixed species. Hills and Mallee Woodland of of Eucalyptus ewartiana with a Sparse Tall Shrubland of Acacia Ew slopes ramulosa var. ramulosa and Open Forbland of Asteraceae species. Sparse Tall Shrubland to Tall Shrubland of Melaleuca aff. acuminata subsp. websteri Ma Calcrete with an Open Forbland of Asteraceae species. Tall Shrubland of Melaleuca aff. acuminata subsp. websteri with Scattered Low Trees MaEL Calcrete of Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba and Open Forbland of mixed species. Tall Shrubland of Melaleuca nematophylla and Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa with an Hills and MnEw Open Low Shrubland of Philotheca sericea, Open Forbland of Asteraceae species and slopes Scattered Low Mallee Trees of Eucalyptus ewartiana. Hills and Tall Shrubland of Acacia ramulosa, Acacia burkitti, Melaleuca leiocarpa and Melaleuca Mu slopes uncinata with an Open Forbland of Asteraceae species. Hills and Closed Low Shrubland of Thryptomene ramulosa with Scattered Shrubs of Acacia Tr slopes species and Scattered Forbs of mixed species.
Note: Bennett’s vegetation descriptions have been updated using the NVIS methodology at the Association Level (Level 5); at this level up to three strata and a maximum of three taxa per stratum are used to describe the association (ESCAVI, 2003).
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More recently Woodman Environmental Consulting (2008) mapped three vegetation Super Groups and 23 Floristic Community Types (FCTs) between Mt Karara and Mungada Ridge (Table 2.5). Fourteen of the FCTs are mapped on SMC’s Blue Hills tenements: FCT1a, 1b, 2, 3, 7b, 7c, 8, 10a, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and FCT16 Figure 9.4, Section 9). Woodman also mapped mosaics of FCTs 1a/2, 4/17 and 11/9 within the tenements as well as degraded areas. Woodman rated the following FCTs as having the highest conservation significance (i.e. rated 5 on a scale of 1 to 5): FCT8, 11, 12 and FCT13 and the mosaic of FCT11/9. This was followed by FCT14, 10a, 10b, 9 and FCT4 and the mosaic of FCT4/17, which were ranked as 4 by Woodman. These ratings were based on the restricted habitat and the higher number of Priority species found within those FCTs. Four of the highly significant FCTs (FCT8, 11, 12 and FCT13) occur within SMC’s Blue Hills tenements along with two of the next highest – FCT14 and 10a and the mosaic of FCT4/17.
Of these, FCT 13 is considered to be of high conservation significance by the EPA, as the community is regionally restricted and would be impacted by mining resulting in fragmentation of the community (EPA, 2009).
Four FCTs and two mosaics (FCT 1a, 12, 13, 14, 1a/2 and 4/17 - highlighted grey in Table 2.5) plus land mapped as degraded occur within the Infrastructure Areas (Figure 9.4, Section 9).
Table 2.5: FCTs on SMC’s Blue Hills Tenements - Woodman Environmental Consulting (2008)
Code Floristic Community Types
Open Woodland of Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. supralaevis with Open Shrubland dominated by 1a Acacia tetragonophylla and A. obtecta over chenopod species including Sclerolaena fusiformis, Sclerolaena diacantha and Rhagodia drummondii on flats and drainage depressions. Shrubland dominated by Acacia species including Acacia burkittii, A. tetragonophylla and A. 1b inceana subsp. conformis over mixed species including Eremophila pantonii, Solanum nummularium and Rhagodia drummondii on flats with occasional ironstone/granite gravels. Open Woodland of Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. supralaevis and/or E. striaticalyx subsp. striaticalyx over Shrubland of mixed species including Acacia erinacea, Eremophila pantonii and 2 (in mosaic) Senna stowardii over mixed species including Sclerolaena fusiformis and Scaevola spinescens on flats and rocky lower slopes with ironstone gravels. Open Woodland of Eucalyptus kochii subsp. ?plenissima or Shrubland of Acacia tetragonophylla, A. burkittii and A. assimilis subsp. assimilis over mixed species including Rhagodia drummondii, 3 Scaevola spinescens, Philotheca brucei subsp. brucei and Eremophila clarkei on flats to mid slopes with ironstone gravels and rarely banded ironstone formations (BIF). Shrubland dominated by Acacia ramulosa subsp. ramulosa over sparse mixed species on flats and 4 (in mosaic) slopes. Woodland of Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. supralaevis over Muehlenbeckia florulenta, Teucrium 7b racemosum and Sclerolaena fusiformis on open drainage depression. Open Woodland of Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. supralaevis or Eucalyptus striaticalyx subsp. 7c striaticalyx or Shrubland of Melaleuca lateriflora over chenopod species including Sclerolaena diacantha, Maireana carnosa and M. thesioides on drainage depressions and lower slopes. Shrubland of mixed Acacia species, including A. assimilis subsp. assimilis, A. ramulosa subsp. ramulosa and A. burkittii, and Melaleuca nematophylla and Calycopeplus paucifolius with 8 occasional Allocasuarina acutivalvis subsp. prinsepiana and Callitris columellaris, over mixed species including Eremophila latrobei subsp. latrobei, E. clarkei, Philotheca sericea, Prostanthera magnifica and Aluta aspera subsp. hesperia on upper slopes and crests with BIF outcropping.
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Code Floristic Community Types
Shrubland of mixed Acacia species, including Acacia umbraculiformis ms, A. tetragonophylla and A. assimilis subsp. assimilis, and occasional Allocasuarina acutivalvis subsp. prinsepiana over mixed 9 (in mosaic) species including Eremophila clarkei, E. latrobei subsp. latrobei, Philotheca brucei subsp. brucei, P. sericea, Xanthosia bungei and Mirbelia bursarioides ms on midslopes to crests with BIF or cherty soils. Dense Shrubland of mixed Acacia species including A. tetragonophylla and A. exocarpoides, and Allocasuarina acutivalvis subsp. prinsepiana with occasional Eucalyptus petraea over mixed species 10a including Calycopeplus paucifolius, Dodonaea inaequifolia, Philotheca sericea and occasional Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened) on upper slopes to crests on BIF. Shrubland of Acacia species dominated by A. umbraculiformis ms over mixed species including 11 Aluta aspera subsp. hesperia, Mirbelia bursarioides ms, Philotheca sericea, Micromyrtus trudgenii (Priority 3) on lower slopes to upper slopes with ironstone gravels and occasional BIF. Shrubland of Acacia species including A. assimilis subsp. assimilis, Acacia ramulosa subsp. ramulosa, Acacia exocarpoides and Acacia sibina over mixed species including Hibbertia arcuata, 12 Calycopeplus paucifolius and Grevillea obliquistigma subsp. obliquistigma on flats to mid- upperslopes with ironstone gravels. Dense Shrubland of Allocasuarina acutivalvis subsp. prinsepiana with Melaleuca nematophylla 13 over Grevillea paradoxa, Xanthosia bungei and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (A. Markey & S. Dillon 3468) (Priority 1) on mid-upper slopes on BIF. Shrubland of Acacia species including A. assimilis subsp. assimilis and Acacia ramulosa subsp. ramulosa and Allocasuarina acutivalvis subsp. prinsepiana with emergent Eucalyptus leptopoda 14 subsp. elevata over mixed species including Aluta aspera subsp. hesperia, Prostanthera magnifica and Grevillea obliquistigma subsp. obliquistigma on slopes and ridges. Shrubland of mixed Acacia species including A. burkittii, A. assimilis subsp. assimilis, A. latior ms 15 and A. sibina with Melaleuca hamata over Eremophila spp., Malleostemon tuberculatus and Philotheca deserti subsp. deserti on flats and lower slopes. Shrubland of Acacia species dominated by A. latior ms and Melaleuca leiocarpa with emergent Eucalyptus leptopoda var. arctata over mixed species including Wrixonia prostantheroides, 16 Enekbatus stowardii ms, Aluta aspera subsp. hesperia and Hibbertia stenophylla on flats to mid slopes. Shrubland of Acacia species dominated by A. sibina and A. latior ms with Melaleuca hamata and / 17 (in mosaic) or Melaleuca leiocarpa with emergent Eucalyptus ewartiana on flats.
Markey & Dillon (2008) undertook a quadrat based survey on the flora and floristic communities of several ironstone ranges and outcrops on the central Tallering Land System as part of a series of surveys on the flora and vegetation of the banded iron formations of the Yilgarn Craton undertaken by the DEC. Twenty quadrats were assessed on Windanning Hill along with an additional 83 quadrats surveyed on other hills of the central Tallering System. Of the five main groups and eight FCTs described by Markey and Dillon (2008), five occur in the Mungada area (Communities 1b, 2, 3, 4a, 5b) (Table 2.6). Table 2.6: FCTs Described By Markey And Dillon (2008)
Code Floristic Community Type
Speciose shrublands on the shallow, loamy soils of hillslopes and isolated ridges of the survey area. Acacia 1b (A. sibiana, A. ramulosa var. ramulosa) and Allocasuarina dominated shrublands and thickets over a rich shrub understorey, and often with emergent trees of Eucalyptus and Melaleuca leiocarpa.
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Code Floristic Community Type
Tall shrublands of Allocasuarina acutivalvis, Melaleuca nematophylla, Grevillea paradoxa and Gastrolobium 2 laytonii and the low shrubs Aluta aspera subsp. hesperia, and Xanthosia bungei.
Sparse shrublands on the crests and moderately steep slopes of low escarpments, ridges and outcrops of BIF. Characteristic species include Stylidium longibracteatum, Micromyrtus trudgenii (P3) and Calytrix uncinata (P3). Acacia aulacophylla, Eremophila glutinosa, Melaleuca hamata (rarely encountered, with 3 both occurrences in this community type), Austrodanthonia caespitosa, Mirbelia bursarioides, Cheiranthera filifolia var. simplicifolia, Drummondita fulva (P3), Prostanthera patens and Thryptomene costata are significant indicator species.
Open stands of Callitris collumelaris and sparse shrublands on steep, rocky or boulder-strewn ridges, cliffs and tors with shallow loamy soils. Notable and significant indicator species include 4a the shrubs Calycopeplus pauciflorus, Dodonaea petiolaris and Dodonaea viscosa, the rockferns, Cheilanthes sieberi subsp. sieberi, Cheilanthes lasiophyllum and Pleurosorus rutifolius and the herbaceous Isotoma petraea.
Lowland open Eucalyptus woodlands and Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa shrublands over sparse shrubs of Senna, Ptilotus obovatus var. obovatus, Scaevola spinescens and chenopods. Located on gently sloping – 5b flat lower slopes and outwash plains, on deeper red earths. Significant indicator species include Eucalyptus kochii subsp. amaryssia, Maireana planifolia x villosa, Olearia humilis, and the two characteristic species of Senna, S. charlesiana and S. artemisioides subsp. filifolia.
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3 RESULTS
3.1 Species Recorded One hundred and seventy-nine taxa from 104 genera and 46 families were recorded from the areas surveyed both within and outside the Infrastructure Areas. The families with the highest number of taxa were Fabaceae (29), Asteraceae (24) and Myrtaceae (17). The genera with the highest number of taxa were Acacia (21), Eremophila (6), Eucalyptus and Melaleuca (5 each).
Approximately 37% of the species were identified from flowering material, 13% from fruiting material and 9% from both flowering and fruiting material. Annual taxa comprise 29% of the species list and perennial taxa 71%.
The identity of a Lepidium sp. could not be confirmed due to a lack of reproductive material.
Acacia aneura varieties are under taxonomic revision and some of the specimens collected have been listed as Acacia aneura.
A list of the vascular flora species recorded is provided as Table A2.1, Appendix 2.
3.2 Range Extensions Species have a typical range which is indicated by their known distribution records. Sometimes species are recorded during surveys which have not been previously located in the area; these species are described as range extensions. In many cases a range extension reflects a lack of surveys in a particular area or lack of submissions of flora records to the Western Australian herbarium as opposed to being a true range extension.
One species, Dianella revoluta var. revoluta, was identified as a range extension in the Infrastructure Areas. Dianella revoluta var. revoluta is 400 km north of its closest record near Corrigin (Avon Wheatbelt Bioregion). This species is widely spread across the south-west of Australia (FloraBase, 2011).
3.3 Conservation Significant Flora
3.3.1 Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Some flora species are protected under Commonwealth legislation based on the perceived levels of threat to the species population at a national level. These species are placed within one of six conservation categories (Table A3.1, Appendix 3) and four of these categories are specially protected under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) (DSEWPaC, 2011b).
The search using the EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool indicated that three flora species protected by the EPBC Act, including the species habitat, have the potential to occur in the Infrastructure Areas and surrounds: Eremophila viscida (Endangered), Hybanthus cymulosus (Critically Endangered) and Pityrodia axillaris (Critically Endangered).
No flora species protected by the EPBC Act were located in the Infrastructure Areas.
3.3.2 Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act (1950-1979) All flora species native to Western Australia are protected under the State’s Wildlife Conservation Act (WC Act). The Minister for the Environment may declare species of flora to be protected by the WC Act if they maia Page 9
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are considered to be in danger of extinction, rare or otherwise in need of special protection: Schedules 1 and 2 deal with those species that are declared as Threatened and Presumed Extinct respectively (DEC, 2011b).
In Western Australia the term Threatened Flora is applied to extant Declared Rare Flora (DRF) and Presumed Extinct Flora to extinct DRF (DEC, 2011b and defined in Table A3.2, Appendix 3). The most recent DRF list was published in February 2012 (Government of Western Australia, 2012).
Currently, 13 records exist for Threatened Flora species in the Yalgoo Bioregion (FloraBase, 2012). Of these records, three species listed under the WC Act are known to occur within or in the vicinity of the SMC’s tenements: Acacia woodmaniorum (Vulnerable), Eucalyptus synandra (Vulnerable) and Stylidium sp. Yalgoo (Vulnerable).
Acacia Woodmaniorum was recorded in high numbers on the south facing slopes of the Mungada East ridge and Mungada East pit and in lower numbers in previously disturbed areas around the existing Mungada West pit. A. woodmaniorum was recorded within the Infrastructure Areas and also in the areas surveyed outside. A description for and photographs of A. woodmaniorum are included below and locations are shown on Figure 9.5, Section 9. Stylidium sp. Yalgoo was targeted during the September 2011 survey, however, none were located within the Infrastructure Areas or in any transects and polygons walked outside the Infrastructure Areas but within SMC’s tenements.
Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened Flora)
A. woodmaniorum is a prickly, hard shrub growing up to 2 m high on the southern faces of hill slopes and crests of banded ironstone and laterite (Plate 3.1). The branches are intricate and the marginal nerve is red in younger leaves (phyllodes) but ages to yellow on older leaves (Plates 3.2 and 3.3). The bark is grey and slightly rough. A. woodmaniorum produces yellow flowers during July (Plate 3.2) (FloraBase, 2011) and the pods produced after flowering are narrowly oblong and flat but slightly rounded over the seeds (Plate 3.3) (Maslin & Buscumb, 2007).
One thousand nine hundred and sixty-six A. woodmaniorum plants were recorded within the Infrastructure Areas (Figure 9.5a and b, Section 9). The co-ordinates for these plants are not included in this report but have been supplied to SMC separately.
Plate 3.1: Growth habit Plate 3.2: Close-up of leaves and flowers
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Plate 3.3: Close-up of leaves and pods
3.3.3 Priority Flora Because of the large Western Australian flora, many species are known from only a few collections, or a few sites, and have not been adequately surveyed. Species that have not yet been adequately surveyed to be listed under Schedule 1 or 2 are added to the Priority Flora List under Priorities 1, 2 or 3. These three categories are ranked in order of priority for survey and evaluation of conservation status so that consideration can be given to their declaration as threatened flora. Species that are adequately known, are rare but not threatened, or meet criteria for Near Threatened, or that have been recently removed from the threatened list for other than taxonomic reasons, are placed in Priority 4. These species require regular monitoring. Conservation Dependent species are placed in Priority 5 (DEC, 2011b).
Definitions for each of the categories discussed above are included in Table A3.3, Appendix 3. The most recent Priority Flora List was published in September 2010 (Smith, 2010).
FloraBase (2012) lists 171 Priority Flora species for the Yalgoo Bioregion. The NatureMap search indicated that 31 Priority species have been recorded at or in the vicinity of the areas surveyed. These records include: nine Priority 1 species, four Priority 2 species and 18 Priority 3 species (Table A1.1, Appendix 1).
Two additional Priority species were listed in reports on other surveys carried out in the area (Table A1.1, Appendix 1) bringing the total to 33.
Four Priority Flora species were located in the Infrastructure Areas: Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (A. Markey & S. Dillon 3468) (Priority 1), Drummondita fulva, Micromyrtus trudgenii and Persoonia pentasticha (all Priority 3). Three additional Priority Flora species (Acacia karina, Calotis sp. Perrinvale Station and Micromyrtus acuta – Priority 2, Priority 3 and Priority 3 respectively), and one species of interest (Baeckea sp. Blue Hills) were located outside the Infrastructure Areas when walking transects and polygons (Table A2.1, Appendix 2).
Descriptions for and photographs of the Priority Flora species recorded within the Infrastructure Areas follow and their locations are listed in Table A4.1, Appendix 4 and shown on Figure 9.6, Section 9. Details on known recorded locations for the species are included in Table A1.1, Appendix 1 (species shaded grey). The coordinates for these plants are included as Table A4.1, Appendix 4.
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Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (A. Markey & S. Dillon 3468) (Priority 1) L. sp. Blue Hills is a sedge growing to 0.5 m on hill slopes, breakaways and rocky outcrops of laterite, granite, banded ironstone and sandstone rock (Plate 3.4). L. sp. Blue Hills produces brown flowers during September (Plate 3.5) (FloraBase, 2011).
Five L. sp. Blue Hills plants were located within the Infrastructure Areas (Figure 9.6).
Plate 3.4: Growth habit Plate 3.5: Close-up of leaves and flowers
Drummondita fulva (Priority 3) D. fulva is an erect, branching shrub growing to 1.5 m on lower hill slopes and hill crests of banded ironstone and associated meta-sedimentary rock (Plate 3.6). The branchlets are smooth with glandular ridges. The fleshy leaves are club-shaped and green with a terminal reddish-brown tip (Plate 3.7). D. fulva produces red flowers from September to October (FloraBase, 2011).
Fifty-five plants were recorded within the Infrastructure Areas (Figure 9.6).
Plate 3.6: Growth habit Plate 3.7: Close-up of leaves and flower bud
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Micromyrtus trudgenii (Priority 3) M. trudgenii is an erect, open, straggly weeping shrub growing to 2 m high on hill slopes and ridges of quartz, basalt, dolerite and banded ironstone (Plate 3.8). The leaves are 4-9 mm and are densely arranged on the smaller branchlets (Plate 3.9) (Rye, 2007). M. trudgenii produces yellow flowers from June to October (FloraBase, 2011).
Six hundred and nine plants were recorded within the Infrastructure Areas (Figure 9.6).
Plate 3.8: Growth habit Plate 3.9: Close-up of leaves and flowers
Persoonia pentasticha (Priority 3) P. pentasticha is an erect, spreading shrub growing to 1.8 m on lower hill slopes and outcrops of granite, haematite or banded ironstone (Plate 3.10). The terete leaves are simple, folded and are covered with short simple curled hairs. P. pentasticha produces yellow flowers from August to November (Plate 3.11) (FloraBase, 2011).
Eleven plants were recorded within the Infrastructure Areas (Figure 9.6).
Plate 3.10: Growth habit Plate 3.11: Close-up of leaves and flowers
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3.4 Introduced Flora A weed is defined in the Australian Weeds Strategy (DEWR, 2007) as ‘a plant which has, or has the potential to have, a detrimental effect on economic, social or conservation values’. Weeds can include species that have proliferated in bushland without direct human intervention or assistance (referred to as naturalised alien species).
3.4.1 Weeds of National Significance In 1998, Australian governments endorsed a framework to identify which weed species could be considered to be Weeds of National Significance (WONS) within an agricultural, forestry and environmental context. Seventy-one weed species were nominated for ranking as WONS and 20 were accepted (DEC, 2011c). The criteria used to determine WONS were: the invasiveness of the weed species, the weed’s impact, the potential spread of the species, and the socio-economic and environmental values of the weed (Australian Government, 2011).
The EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool indicated that no WONS have been recorded in the area.
No WONS were located during the survey.
3.4.2 Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 Plants which adversely affect agriculture (or have the potential to) are known as Declared Plants and are listed as one or more of five priority category weeds under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 (DAFWA, 2011). The priority categories (Appendix 5) define the control mechanisms for these weeds.
A Declared Plants search (DAFWA, 2011) indicated that 86 Declared Plants are listed for the Morawa and Perenjori areas.
No Declared Plants were listed in the results from the search using the EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool. The NatureMap search listed two Declared Plants that have been recorded within the search area: Echium plantagineum (Paterson’s Curse) and Galium aparine (Goosegrass).
No Declared Plants were located within the Infrastructure Areas, however large numbers of Echium plantagineum (Paterson’s Curse) were recorded by Ecologia during a survey in 2006 on disturbed areas of the lower slopes of the old Mungada East mining pit (EPA, 2009).
3.4.3 Environmental Weeds Environmental weeds are not known to pose a threat to agriculture, but are known to be invasive colonisers that can threaten the health of native vegetation.
The EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool indicated that one invasive species (weed) could occur in the area: Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel-grass).
The NatureMap search listed 33 weed species that have been recorded in the area.
One environmental weed was located within the Infrastructure Areas - Arctotheca calendula (Figure 9.7, Section 9). A further nine environmental weeds (Brassica tournefortii, Cleretum papulosum subsp. papulosum, Cuscuta planiflora, Erodium cicutarium, Lamarckia aurea, Lysimachia arvensis, Pentaschistis airoides subsp. airoides, Rostraria pumila and Sonchus oleraceus) were located while walking transects and polygons in the wider area (Table A2.1, Appendix 2) (Figure 9.7, Section 9). maia Page 14
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In Western Australia the Environmental Weed Strategy for Western Australia (EWSWA) (CALM, 1999) provides details of management priorities and general control measures and monitoring for environmental weeds. Environmental weeds are plants that establish themselves in natural ecosystems (marine, aquatic and terrestrial) and proceed to modify natural processes, usually adversely resulting in the decline of the communities they invade. Many environmental weeds are successfully invading WA ecosystems (DEC, 2011d).
The EWSWA is still relevant but Appendix 3 of the document - the ‘List of Environmental Weed Species of Actual and Potential Significance in WA’ is now out of date and the Invasive Plant Prioritisation Process for DEC has been developed (DEC, 2011e). The process encourages consideration of a species-led and site-led approach to control the threat of environmental weeds within WA. Workshops have been held in each DEC Region to prioritise weed species according to their threat to the natural environment and these weed assessments are now available. The Midwest Region weed assessment spread-sheet lists 65 environmental weeds for the Yalgoo Bioregion. Most of the weeds listed are rated for their invasiveness, distribution and ecological (environmental) impacts (DEC, 2011f) among other attributes. The invasiveness, distribution and ecological impact rankings for Arctotheca calendula are listed in Table 3.1 along with its EWSWA.
Table 3.1: Weeds in the Infrastructure Areas
Current Ecological EWSWA Species (Common Name) Invasiveness Distribution Impact Rating Arctotheca calendula (Cape Weed) Rapid Extensive High Moderate
Ten Arctotheca calendula plants were recorded at the following location: 488895 mE, 6776315 mN (GDA94, 50J).
3.5 Vegetation Woodman Environmental mapped 14 FCTs within SMC’s tenements and those recorded in the Infrastructure Areas are described and shown in Table 3.2. The photographs were taken by Maia to provide a visual representation of the described units.
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Table 3.2: Woodman’s Floristic Community Types (FCT) of the Infrastructure Areas
Conservation Significant Flora Recored in Code FCT Photograph FCT
Open Woodland of Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. supralaevis with Open Shrubland dominated by Acacia tetragonophylla and A. Persoonia pentasticha (Priority 3) recorded in 1a obtecta over chenopod species including mosaic with FCT 2. Sclerolaena fusiformis, Sclerolaena diacantha and Rhagodia drummondii on flats and drainage depressions.
Open Woodland of Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. supralaevis and/or E. striaticalyx subsp. striaticalyx over Shrubland of mixed species including Acacia erinacea, Eremophila pantonii 2 Persoonia pentasticha (Priority 3). and Senna stowardii over mixed species including Sclerolaena fusiformis and Scaevola spinescens on flats and rocky lower slopes with ironstone gravels.
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Conservation Significant Flora Recored in Code FCT Photograph FCT
Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened), Shrubland dominated by Acacia ramulosa Drummondita fulva (Priority 3), and Micromyrtus 4 subsp. ramulosa over sparse mixed species on trudgenii (Priority 3) recorded in mosaic with FCT flats and slopes. 17.
Shrubland of Acacia species including A. assimilis subsp. assimilis, Acacia ramulosa Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened), subsp. ramulosa, Acacia exocarpoides and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (A. Markey & S. Dillon Acacia sibina over mixed species including 12 3468) (P1), Drummondita fulva (Priority 3), Hibbertia arcuata, Calycopeplus paucifolius and Micromyrtus trudgenii (Priority 3), and Persoonia Grevillea obliquistigma subsp. obliquistigma on pentasticha (Priority 3). flats to mid-upperslopes with ironstone gravels.
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Conservation Significant Flora Recored in Code FCT Photograph FCT
Dense Shrubland of Allocasuarina acutivalvis Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened), subsp. prinsepiana with Melaleuca Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (A. Markey & S. Dillon nematophylla over Grevillea paradoxa, 13 3468) (P1), Drummondita fulva (Priority 3), Xanthosia bungei and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Micromyrtus trudgenii (Priority 3), and Persoonia Hills (A. Markey & S. Dillon 3468) (Priority 1) on pentasticha (Priority 3). mid-upper slopes on BIF.
Shrubland of Acacia species including A. assimilis subsp. assimilis and Acacia ramulosa subsp. ramulosa and Allocasuarina acutivalvis Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened), subsp. prinsepiana with emergent Eucalyptus Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (A. Markey & S. Dillon 14 leptopoda subsp. elevata over mixed species 3468) (P1), Drummondita fulva (Priority 3), and including Aluta aspera subsp. hesperia, Micromyrtus trudgenii (Priority 3). Prostanthera magnifica and Grevillea obliquistigma subsp. obliquistigma on slopes and ridges.
Shrubland of Acacia species dominated by A. latior ms and Melaleuca leiocarpa with Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened), emergent Eucalyptus leptopoda var. arctata Drummondita fulva (Priority 3), and Micromyrtus 17 over mixed species including Wrixonia FCT 17 was not located in the Infrastructure Areas surveyed. trudgenii (Priority 3) recorded in mosaic with prostantheroides, Enekbatus stowardii ms, FCT 4. Aluta aspera subsp. hesperia and Hibbertia stenophylla on flats to mid slopes. maia Page 18
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The Majority of Woodman’s FCTs mapped in the Infrastructure Areas accurately represented those observed on the ground. Vegetation with FCT 17’s dominant species (Acacia latior, Wrixonia prostantheroides, and Enekbatus stowardii) did not occur in the Infrastructure Areas. However Woodman mapped FCT 17 as a mosaic with FCT 4, which occurred on the plains and footslopes of the Infrastructure Areas, and FCT 4 rather than FCT 17 occurs in the Infrastructure Areas.
3.6 Vegetation Condition
Vegetation condition was assessed using the scale outlined in the Government of Western Australia (2000) Bush Forever documentation. The general condition of the vegetation within the Infrastructure Areas ranged from Degraded to Very Good. There are obvious signs of disturbance as there are existing pits and waste dumps at both Mungada East and Mungada West. Dust and rubbish were evident on and within the vegetation along an existing haul road, and there are current and old exploration sites within the Infrastructure Areas. The effects of goat grazing were also evident, particularly around the existing pits.
3.7 Ecological Communities Some ecological communities are protected by Commonwealth and State legislation (Threatened Ecological Communities; TECs), while others are listed as Priority Ecological Communities (PECs) while their significance is being assessed prior to being listed as a TEC. The conservation significance rankings for TECs and PECs are detailed in Table A3.4 and Table A3.5, Appendix 3.
One Priority 1 PEC is listed as occurring at Blue Hills – Blue Hills (Mount Karara / Mungada Ridge / Blue Hills) vegetation complexes (banded ironstone formation) (DEC, 2011g).
The separate mapped areas of the PEC are shown on Figure 9.1 and the boundaries of the section of the PEC around the Infrastructure Areas are shown on Figure 9.2, Section 9. Approximately half of the Infrastructure Areas lie within the boundaries of the PEC.
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4 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE The conservation significance of the flora and vegetation of the Infrastructure Areas is discussed below. Significance is assessed at regional and local scales.
4.1 Conservation Significance: Flora One Threatened Flora species and four Priority Flora species were recorded in the Infrastructure Areas: Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened, Vulnerable), Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (Priority 1), Drummondita fulva, Micromyrtus trudgenii and Persoonia pentasticha (all Priority 3).
4.1.1 Regional Significance Significance ratings (low, moderate or high) of the plants recorded in the Infrastructure Areas are based on the bioregional distribution and the number and spread of FloraBase records for each species.
Fifteen Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened) records are listed on FloraBase and its distribution is limited to the Blue Hills (BH) Range in the Murchison (FloraBase, November 2011). This species is found in large numbers primarily on the rocky crests and slopes of the Blue Hills Range. However, it also grows in disturbed areas inside and adjacent to the existing Mungada West and East pits.
As a Threatened (Vulnerable) species A. woodmaniorum is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Given its limited distribution (Yalgoo Bioregion) and listing as a Threatened Flora species its regional significance is high.
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Six Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (Priority 1) records are listed on FloraBase and its distribution is limited to Charles Darwin Reserve NE of Wubin and Mt Karara at BH Range (FloraBase, November 2011). The species is found in relatively large numbers and it tends to be habitat specific to the rocky hills and midslopes.
As a Priority 1 species L. sp. Blue Hills is poorly known. Given its limited regional distribution (Yalgoo and Avon Wheatbelt bioregions) and habitat specificity it has high regional conservation significance.
Fifteen Drumondita fulva (Priority 3) records are listed on FloraBase and its distribution is limited to Windaning Hill, Oxiana Golden Grove, Blue Hills Range, BH Range Minjar Hill, Warriedar Hill, BH Range Jasper Hill (FloraBase, November 2011).
This species is found in relatively large numbers and occurs across a number of habitats at Blue Hills (low lateritic hills, rocky ironstone outcrops, minor rocky gullies and on the flats). As a Priority 3 species D. fulva is poorly known and as it has a limited distribution (appears to be only Yalgoo Bioregion) is rated as having high regional conservation significance.
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Twenty-nine records for Micromyrtus trudgenii (Priority 3) are listed on FloraBase and its distribution is limited to Damperwah Hills Karara Station, Mt Mulgine, Warriedar Station, St Patricks, Arsenic Hill, Bentley, Riley, near Mungada, Mungada Ridge, BH Range, BH Range Minjar Hill, BH Range Warriedar Hill, BH Range Jasper Hill, BH Range Windaning Hill, 20 km south of Golden Grove Mine, Golden Grove mine site and Gossan Hill (FloraBase, November 2011).
M. trudgenii occurs in high numbers and is generally found on rocky slopes and hill crests but is also recorded in lower numbers on the outwash flats. As a Priority 3 species M. trudgenii is poorly known.
While it has a limited distribution (Yalgoo Bioregion) it is recorded in high numbers across the BH Range and is considered to be moderately conservation significant regionally.
Forty-one records for Persoonia pentasticha (Priority 3) are listed on FloraBase and localities include Koolanooka Hills, Charles Darwin Reserve, Barrabarra Nature Reserve, Mt Gibson, Damperwah Hills, Perenjori Hills, Billerangera Hills, Mugga Mugga Hill, Mungada Ridge, BH Range, Extension Hill, Warriedar Station, Mt Gibson Station, 70 km NE of Wubin, East Yuna Nature Reserve and West Perenjori Nature Reserve (FloraBase, November 2011).
P. pentasticha has a scattered distribution and is found in low numbers on the flats and footslopes of the hills of the Range.
P. pentasticha has a relatively wide distribution in the Midwest (in the Yalgoo, Avon Wheatbelt and Geraldton Sandplains bioregions) and is considered to have low regional conservation significance.
Mapping by Paul Gioia. Image used with the permission of the Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Environment and Conservation (http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/help/copyright). Accessed on Wed, 30 December 2011.
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4.1.2 Local Significance The local conservation significance of these species in the Infrastructure Areas is discussed below. Significance ratings (low, moderate or high) are based on the number of locations recorded within the Infrastructure Areas relative to those in the local area i.e. SMC’s tenements. Locations recorded within and outside the Infrastructure Areas are a combination of Maia’s survey records and Woodman’s, which were supplied to SMC by Gindalbie. Maps showing the distribution of the significant flora species recorded within the Infrastructure Areas and in the wider areas surveyed are shown in Figure 9.8 and Figure 9.9 (Section 9).
Acacia woodmaniorum was recorded at 9,544 locations overall and 1,028 of these locations were within the Infrastructure Areas. As the plants of the Infrastructure Areas comprise approximately 11% of the local distribution these A. woodmaniorum are considered to be locally highly conservation significant.
Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills was recorded at 751 locations overall and at two locations within the Infrastructure Areas. As the plants within the Infrastructure Areas comprise approximately 0.03% of the local distribution, these populations of L. sp. Blue Hills are considered to have low local conservation significance.
Drummondita fulva was recorded at 692 locations overall and at 21 locations within the Infrastructure Areas. As the plants within the Infrastructure Areas comprise approximately 0.03% of the local distribution, these populations of D. fulva of the area have low local conservation significance.
Micromyrtus trudgenii was recorded at 1,697 locations overall and at 106 locations within the Infrastructure Areas. As the plants within the Infrastructure Areas comprise approximately 6.2% of the local distribution, these populations of M. trudgenii have low to moderate local conservation significance.
Persoonia pentasticha was recorded at 108 locations overall and at two locations within the Infrastructure Areas. As the plants within the Infrastructure Areas comprise approximately 1.85% of the local distribution, these populations of P. pentasticha have low local conservation significance.
4.1.3 Summary of Regional and Local Significance: Flora Table 4.1 provides a summary of the regional and local significance of the conservation significant species recorded within the Infrastructure Areas.
Table 4.1: Regional and Local Significance of the Priority Flora Recorded in the Infrastructure Areas
Conservation Species Regional Significance Local Significance Rank Acacia woodmaniorum T High High Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills P1 High Low Drummondita fulva P3 High Low Micromyrtus trudgenii P3 Moderate Low-Moderate Persoonia pentasticha P3 Low Low T = Threatened Flora species; P1 and P3 = Priority 1 and Priority 3 species.
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4.2 Conservation Significance: Vegetation The regional and local significance of the vegetation units of the Infrastructure Areas is discussed in the following sub-sections.
4.2.1 Regional Significance The regional significance of the land systems (LS), Beard’s vegetation associations and Woodman’s vegetation associations of the Infrastructure Areas is considered below.
4.2.1.1 LAND SYSTEMS The extent of each LS in the Infrastructure Areas is listed in Table 4.2.
Table 4.2: Land Systems of the Infrastructure Areas
Land Area in SMC Area in Area in SMC Area in WA in Area in System Habitat Description Tenements Infra. Areas Tenements in Infra. Areas WA (ha) (LS) (ha) (ha) Infra. Areas (%) (%)
Prominent ridges and hills of banded ironstone, dolerite and Tallering sedimentary rocks 32,900 462.23 16.53 3.58 0.05 supporting bowgada and other acacia shrublands. Sandy plains supporting shrublands Yowie of mulga and bowgada 918,900 396.98 27.68 6.97 0.0007 with patchy wanderrie grasses.
The condition summary for the Tallering LS was assessed as 69% good and 31% fair, while that of the Yowie LS was 50% good, 36% fair and 14% poor condition (Payne et al., 1998).
The extent of the LS in the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find area ranges from 400 ha to 918,900 ha. The Tallering LS is therefore one of the least extensive mapped in that area. While the Tallering LS is mapped over a relatively small area it has a relatively wide distribution (from Yalgoo in the north almost to Paynes Find in the south and from, Karara Station in the west to just east of Warriedar Station in the east). Therefore, the Tallering LS of the Infrastructure Areas has moderate regional significance.
The Yowie LS is the largest mapped in that area and it has a widespread distributed in the Sandstone-Yalgoo- Paynes Find area. As a result the Yowie LS in the Infrastructure Areas is of low regional significance.
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SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
4.2.1.2 BEARD’S VEGETATION MAPPING The Infrastructure Areas lie within two of Beard’s mapped units and these are listed in Table 4.3.
Table 4.3: Beard’s Vegetation Mapping in the Infrastructure Areas
Percent of Area in Percent of Vegetation Current Area in SMC SMC Sub-Association Description Infra. WA Extent Association Area in Tenements Tenements (NVIS Level 6) Areas in Infra. (and Code) WA (ha) (ha) in Infra. (ha) Areas Areas Acacia ramulosa, Acacia quadrimarginea, Acacia a9,14Si acuminata, Hakea preissii and 3,828 548 41.47 7.57 1.08 (358.5) Dodonaea inaequifolia Tall Open Shrubland Eucalyptus loxophleba and/or e6,22Lr Eucalyptus oleosa Isolated a9,19Si Low Trees with Acacia aneura 23,522 571 2.74 0.48 0.01 (355.2) and Acacia ramulosa Tall Open Shrubland Note: NVIS = National Vegetation Information Systems (ESCAVI, 2003).
Vegetation association a9,14Si is mapped over a relatively small area of the Murchison and it has a narrow distribution. Because of this and its cover in the Infrastructure Areas it is rated as having moderate regional significance.
Vegetation association e6,22Lr a9,19Si is mapped over a larger area of the Murchison. It has a wider distribution and because of its size and distribution the regional conservation significance of its cover in the Infrastructure Areas is rated as low.
4.2.1.3 WOODMAN FLORISTIC COMMUNITY TYPES Woodman ranked those FCTs that were regarded as being regionally restricted as 3, 4 and 5 on a scale of 1 to 5. The FCTs mapped by Woodman on SMC’s tenements with the highest significance ranking (5) are: FCT 8, 11, 12 and FCT 13. Those ranked as a four are: FCT 4, 9, 10a, 10b and FCT 14. Those ranked as a 3 are: 7c and 7b. Of these, FCTs 12, 13 and 14 occur within the Infrastructure Areas along with a mosaic of FCTs 4/17.
4.2.2 Local Significance Local significance is based on the cover of the land systems / vegetation associations in the Infrastructure Areas compared with that in SMC’s tenements as a whole. Local significance is rated as high, moderate or low.
4.2.2.1 LAND SYSTEMS Given the small percentage of the Tallering and Yowie LS that occur in the Infrastructure Areas compared with that mapped in the surrounding area (less than 7%; Table 4.2) the local significance of these LS in the Infrastructure Areas is rated as low.
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SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
4.2.2.2 BEARD’S VEGETATION ASSOCIATIONS Given the small percentage of the two vegetation associations mapped by Beard that occur in the Infrastructure Areas compared with that mapped in SMC’s tenements (less than 8%; Table 4.3) the local significance of these vegetation associations in the Infrastructure Areas is rated as low.
4.2.2.3 WOODMAN’S FLORISTIC COMMUNITY TYPES The local significance of the FCTs of the Infrastructure Areas is based on the FCT’s cover in the Infrastructure Areas, on the proportion of the FCT’s area that occurs within the Infrastructure Areas and SMC’s tenement, the number of significant species located within each FCT, and the regional significance of the FCT.
Table 4.4: Local Significance of FCTs in Infrastructure Areas
Infra. Areas Area Area FCTs as a Total Lep. Mapped Mapped in Proportion of Ac No. sp. D f M t P p Local FCT in Infra. SMC Area Mapped wood Signif. BH (P3) (P3) (P3) Significance Areas Tenements in SMC (T) Flora (P1) (ha) (ha) Tenements Species (%) 1a 0.51 38.63 0.06 0 Low 1a/2 18.1 195.68 2.30 Yes 1 Low 4/17 6.40 132.55 0.81 Yes Yes 2 Low 12 15.53 359.48 1.97 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5 Moderate 13 2.02 35.41 0.26 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5 Moderate 14 0.25 11.09 0.03 Yes Yes Yes Yes 4 Moderate Degraded 1.42 14.44 0.18 Yes 1 Not ranked Total 44.21 787.28 5.62 4 3 4 4 3 Note: FCT = floristic community type, Ac wood = Acacia woodmaniorum, Lep sp. BH = Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills, D f = Drummondita fulva, M t = Micromyrtus trudgenii, P p = Persoonia pentasticha.
As the proportional representation of the FCTs of the Infrastructure Areas in SMC’s tenements is very low (< 2.5%) the local significance of the FCTs occurring in the Infrastructure Areas is rated as low to moderate. Five significant species, including a Threatened species, were recorded in two of the FCTs and four significant species including a Threatened species in one of the FCTs and, even though the relative area of these FCTs is very low (0.03% to 1.97%), the presence of the Threatened species has prompted the moderate local significance rating.
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4.2.3 Summary of Regional and Local Significance: Vegetation
The regional and local significance rankings (low, moderate or high) of the land systems and vegetation of the Infrastructure Areas (as discussed in the previous sections) are summarised in Table 4.5.
Table 4.5: Regional and Local Significance of the Vegetation of the Infrastructure Areas
Land Systems, Beard’s Vegetation Associations Regional Significance Local Significance and FCTs Mapped by Woodman Land Systems Tallering Moderate Low Yowie Low Low Beard’s Vegetation Associations a9,14Si (358.5) Low Low e6,22Lr a9,19Si (355.2) Low Low Woodman’s FCTs 1a Low Low 1a/2 Low Low 4/17 High Low 12 High Moderate 13 High Moderate 14 High Moderate D Not ranked Not ranked
4.3 Conservation Significance: Ecosystems Parts of the Infrastructure Areas lie within the Priority 1 PEC at Blue Hills and therefore are regionally highly significant.
While the PEC covers a large area (approximately 2,195 ha), and the area of the Infrastructure Areas intersecting the PEC is small (approximately 18 ha) the local significance of the PEC in the Infrastructure Areas is considered to be moderate to high based on its listing as a PEC.
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5 IMPACTS
5.1 Impacts to Conservation Significant Species Estimated impact to the five conservation significant flora species recorded within the Infrastructure Areas is summarised in Table 5.1.
These calculations have been carried out using the numbers of plants of each species located within the Infrastructure Areas and those located on SMC and Gindalbie tenements by both Maia and Woodman Environmental Consulting outside the Infrastructure Areas.
Maia and Woodman significant species locations were plotted together and when two points overlapped only one set of data was used in the counts for each species. The whole of the Infrastructure Areas was surveyed during the targeted flora surveys, while a sub-sample of the surrounding areas was surveyed. Therefore, actual impacts will be less than those presented in Table 5.1, as all occurrences of the five significant species in the surrounding areas will not have been located. Although, as a result of the targeted flora surveys carried out along Mungada Ridge (the habitat preferred by Acacia woodmaniorum) the total numbers recorded for that species should more accurately reflect those actually occurring in the wider area.
The distribution of Acacia woodmaniorum in the wider area is shown in Figure 9.8 (Section 9) and the Priority Flora recorded in Figure 9.9 (Section 9).
Estimated impact to each of the conservation significant flora species from the new Infrastructure Areas is less than 7% and ranges from 0.01% (Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills) to 6.53% (Acacia woodmaniorum) (Table 5.1).
Estimated cumulative impact to Acacia woodmaniorum and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills from the pre- approved areas, new Infrastructure Areas and from Gindalbie’s operations are listed in Table 5.2. The counts of Acacia woodmaniorum in this table are based on Maia and Woodman data. The counts for Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills are based on Maia’s data and the data provided in Gindalbie’s Public Environmental Review (PER) because Woodman’s data had fewer plants listed.
The estimated cumulative impacts to Acacia woodmaniorum and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills from SMC operations alone will be less than 10%, however, when Gindalbie operations are taken into consideration, the cumulative impacts increase to 12.59% and 68.82% resepectively.
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Table 5.1: Estimated Impacts to Conservation Significant Flora in the new Infrastructure Area
Conservation No. of Plants Recorded within All Plants Recorded by Woodman Species Impact (%) Rank the Infrastructure Areas and Maia Acacia woodmaniorum T 1,966 30,103 6.53 Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills P1 5 *52,769 0.01 Drummondita fulva P3 55 4,118 1.34 Micromyrtus trudgenii P3 609 12,258 4.97 Persoonia pentasticha P3 11 225 4.89 T = Threatened Flora species; P1 and P3 = Priority 1 and Priority 3 species. *This count has been taken from the PER report as it differs greatly from the Woodman data supplied to Maia by Gindalbie.
Table 5.2: Estimated Cumulative Impacts to Acacia woodmaniorum and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills
Estimated Total No. of Plants Estimated All Plants No. of Plants No. of Plants No. of Plants in Cumulative in Approved Total No. of Recorded Cumulative Recorded estimated to SMC and Impact (%) Species Rank Areas Plants in all by Impact (%) within Infra. be Impacted Gindalbie - SMC and (Ecologia, Impact Woodman - SMC Areas by Gindalbie Infrastructure to Gindalbie 2008) Areas and Maia be impacted
Acacia woodmaniorum T 1,966 811 2,777 1,012 30,103 9.22 3,789 12.59 Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills P1 5 2 7 36,310 *52,769 0.14 36,317 68.82 T = Threatened Flora species; P1 = Priority 1 species. *This count has been taken from the PER report as it differs greatly from the Woodman data supplied to Maia by Gindalbie.
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5.2 Impacts to Vegetation
Impacts to the vegetation of the area have been calculated using the area of the land systems (Payne et al., 1998), Beard (1976) and Woodman Environmental Consulting (2008) mapping. Calculations are based on areas of these units mapped within: WA, the tenements mapped by Woodman (both SMC and Gindalbie’s), SMC’s tenements only, and within the Infrastructure Areas.
5.3 Impacts to Land Systems
Estimated impacts to the two LS of the Infrastructure Areas are detailed in Table 5.3. Local impact has been calculated using LS cover in the Infrastructure Areas and in SMC’s tenements while regional impact has been calculated using LS cover in the Infrastructure Areas and in WA.
Table 5.3: Impacts to Land Systems
Extent within Extent in WA Extent within SMC Local Impact Regional Land System Infrastructure (ha) Tenements (ha) (%) Impact (%) Areas (ha)
Tallering 32,900 462.23 16.53 3.58 0.050 Yowie 918,900 396.98 27.68 6.97 0.003
Local impacts to the two LS of the Infrastructure Areas are estimated to be low (less than 7%) and regional impacts to be very low (less than 0.1%).
5.4 Impacts to Beard’s Vegetation Associations
Estimated impacts to Beard’s vegetation associations of the Infrastructure Areas are detailed in Table 5.4. Local impact has been calculated using Beard vegetation association cover in the Infrastructure Areas and in SMC’s tenements while regional impact has been calculated using Beard vegetation association cover in the Infrastructure Areas and in WA.
Table 5.4: Beard’s Vegetation Associations
Extent within Extent within Vegetation Association Current Extent SMC Local Impact Regional Infrastructure (and Code) (ha) Tenements (%) Impact (%) Areas (ha) (ha) a9,14Si (358.5) 3,828 548 41.47 7.567 1.083 e6,22Lr a9,19Si (355.2) 23,522 571 2.74 0.479 0.012
Local impacts are estimated to be low (less than 8%) while regional impacts are very low (less than 0.5%).
Currently, 77.41% of association a9,14Si remains (see Table 2.3, Section 2) and the proposed works would reduce this to 76.33%. Similarly, 99.94% of e6,22Lr a9,19Si remains and this would reduce to 99.93% as a result of the proposed works.
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5.5 Impacts to FCTs
Estimates of impacts to the mapped vegetation units of the area were not included in the original PER documentation; however, the EPA mentioned potential impacts to Woodman’s floristic community types (FCTs) mapped within the Project Area (EPA, 2009). Impacts to the new Infrastructure Areas have therefore been estimated using Woodman’s vegetation mapping over SMC tenements only and also over both SMC and Gindalbie’s tenements (the wider area) (Table 5.5).
Table 5.5: Impacts to Floristic Community Types (FCTs) in the New Infrastructure Areas
Total Wider Area Within Area Within Impact Based on Impact Based on FCT Area Mapped SMC New Infra. the Wider Area SMC Tenements (ha) Tenements (ha) Areas (ha) (%) (%) 1a 796.21 38.63 0.51 0.06 1.32 1a/2 3488.35 195.68 18.10 0.52 9.25 1b 1578.00 186.88 0 0.00 0.00 2 1262.94 121.92 0 0.00 0.00 3 933.34 35.66 0 0.00 0.00 4 256.51 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 4/17 472.35 132.55 6.40 1.35 4.83 5a 292.15 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 5b 142.70 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 6 5.39 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 7a 93.29 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 7b 54.32 11.55 0 0.00 0.00 7c 173.42 17.40 0 0.00 0.00 7d 3.16 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 8 386.61 4.76 0 0.00 0.00 9 150.42 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 10a 44.32 0.67 0 0.00 0.00 10b 46.52 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 11 218.66 3.42 0 0.00 0.00 11/9 226.41 7.42 0 0.00 0.00 12 643.33 359.48 15.53 2.41 4.32 13 258.11 35.41 2.02 0.78 5.70 14 324.10 11.09 0.25 0.08 2.25 15 1394.27 4.39 0.00 0.00 0.00 15/16 105.95 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 15/16/18 1261.85 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 16 1513.28 19.87 0.00 0.00 0.00 Claypan 11.32 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Degraded 14.44 14.44 1.42 9.83 9.83 Total area (ha) / 16151.71 1201.22 44.21 0.27 3.68 Overall impact (%) Note: Rows highlighted orange indicate FCTs ranked as most highly conservation significant by Woodman Environmental Consulting and those highlighted green as next highest conservation significant.
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5.5.1 Impacts from the New Infrastructure Areas Impacts to FCTs in the new Infrastructure Areas calculated using the area mapped within SMC’s tenements alone (the local area), range between 1.32% (FCT 1a) and 9.25% (1a/2) (excluding the degraded area). Impact to the areas mapped as degraded is estimated to be the highest at 9.83%, followed by the mosaic FCT 1a/2 (9.25%) which has low significance. Impact to FCT 13 (the most significant FCT) is 5.70%.
When impacts are calculated based on the wider area they range from 0.06% (FCT 1a) to 2.41% (FCT 12) (excluding the areas mapped as degraded). Impact to the already degraded areas is estimated to be highest at 9.83%. Impact to FCT 13 (the most significant FCT) is 0.78%.
5.5.2 Cumulative Impacts Cumulative impacts from SMC (the pre-approved areas and the new Infrastructure Areas) and Gindalbie operations are listed in Table 5.6.
Cumulative impact to the FCTs based on the area mapped within SMC’s tenements ranges from 3.26% (FCT 14) to 15.87% (FCT 13). When impacts are calculated based on the wider area (i.e. the total area mapped by Woodman), the impacts are lower and range from 0.11% (FCT 14) to 4.54% (FCT 12). Cumulative impact to FCT 13 (the most significant FCT) is 2.18%.
When the impact from both SMC and Gindalbie operations is ccalculated, the impacts are much higher and range from 5.88% (FCT 4/17) to 65.08% (FCT 14). Cumulative impact to FCT 13 (the most significant FCT) is 56.10%.
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Table 5.6: Cumulative Impacts to FCTs of Infrastructure Areas from SMC and Gindalbie Operations
Cumulative Cumulative Total Area Impact to Extent in Extent in Extent in Extent in Total Area Total Area Total Impact to Total Area Impact to Impacted FCTs by the SMC SMC New SMC Pre- to be to be FCTs of the Impacted by FCTs by SMC FCT by SMC and Wider Tenements Infra. Areas Approved Impacted Impacted by Wider Area by Gindalbie and Gindalbie Gindalbie Gindalbie of Area (ha) (ha) (ha) Areas (ha) by SMC (ha) SMC (%) SMC (%) (%)* of the Wider (ha)* the Wider Area (ha) Area (%) 1a 796.21 38.63 0.51 2.31 2.82 7.29 0.35 77.10 9.69 79.92 10.04 1a/2 3488.35 195.68 18.1 5.74 23.84 12.18 0.68 606.20 17.41 630.04 18.06 4/17 472.35 132.55 6.4 14.08 20.48 15.45 4.34 7.28 1.56 27.76 5.88 12 643.33 359.48 15.53 13.65 29.18 8.12 4.54 40.59 6.32 69.77 10.85 13 258.11 35.41 2.02 3.6 5.62 15.87 2.18 139.18 53.92 144.80 56.10 14 324.1 11.09 0.25 0.11 0.36 3.26 0.11 210.57 64.97 210.93 65.08 Degraded 14.44 14.44 1.42 11.86 13.28 91.95 91.95 0 0 13.28 91.95 Total area (ha) / 16151.7 1201.22 44.21 51.35 Overall 1 impact (%) Note: Rows highlighted orange indicate FCTs ranked as most highly conservation significant (ranking of 5) by Woodman Environmental Consulting and those highlighted green as next highest conservation significant (ranking of 4). *The total area impacted by Gindalbie’s Karara Iron Ore Project (KIOP), Mungada Iron Ore Project (MIOP) and the Joint Infrastructure Areas between KIOP and MIOP.
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5.6 Impacts to PEC
The total area of the PEC is 2194.5 ha and the Infrastructure Areas will impact 17.75 ha of its mapped extent. Therefore the estimated impact to the PEC from the Infrastructure Areas is 0.81%. The previously approved areas impact 17.31 ha (0.78%) of the PEC and therefore cumulative impacts to the PEC from SMC operations will be 1.6%. The cumulative impacts on the PEC from both SMC and Gindalbie operations cannot be assessed as Maia does not have information on the area of the PEC to be impacted by the Karara Iron Ore Project.
5.7 Summary of Impact to Significant Species and FCTs Impact to the FCTs and the significant species recorded in the Infrastructure Areas are summarised below.
Significant flora species
Impact to each of the conservation significant flora species located within the new Infrastructure Areas is estimated to be less than 7% and ranges from 0.01% (Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills) to 6.53% (Acacia woodmaniorum) (based on their numbers in SMC’s tenements). Cumulative impact from both SMC’s pre-approved area and the new Infrastructure Areas to Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened) and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (Priority 1) is 9.22% and 0.14% respectively. Cumulative impact from both SMC and Gindalbie operations to Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened) and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (Priority 1)is 12.59% and 68.82% respectively. Land systems Local impact to the two LS of the Infrastructure Areas (Tallering and Yowie) is estimated to be low (less than 7%) and regional impact to be very low (less than 0.1%). Beard’s vegetation associations Local impact to the two vegetation associations of the Infrastructure Areas (a9,14Si and e6,22Lr a9,19Si) is estimated to be low (less than 8%) while regional impacts are estimated to be very low (less than 2%). Currently, 77.41% of association a9,14Si remains and the proposed works would reduce this to 76.33%. Similarly, 99.94% of e6,22Lr a9,19Si remains and this would reduce to 99.93% as a result of the proposed works. Woodman’s FCTs
Impacts to FCTs in the new Infrastructure Areas calculated using the area mapped within SMC’s tenements alone (the local area), range between 1.32% (FCT 1a) and 9.25% (FCT 1a/2) (excluding the area mapped as degraded). Impact to the area mapped as degraded is estimated to be the highest at 9.83%, followed by the mosaic FCT 1a/2 (9.25%) which has low significance. Impact to FCT 13 (the most significant) is 5.70%. When impacts are calculated based on the wider area they range from a low of 0.06% (FCT 1a) to a high of 2.41% (FCT 12) (excluding the areas mapped as degraded). Impact to the already degraded areas is estimated to be highest at 9.83%. Impact to FCT 13 (the most significant FCT) is 0.78%. Cumulative impact from SMC’s already approved areas and the Infrastructure Areas to the FCTs mapped within SMC’s tenements ranges from 3.26% (FCT 14) to 15.87% (FCT 13). When calculated
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based on the wider mapped area impacts are lower and range from 0.11% (FCT 14) to 4.54% (FCT 12). Cumulative impact to FCT 13 (the most significant FCT) is 2.18%. When the cumulative impact of both SMC and Gindalbie operations on the FCTs are estimated they range from a low of 5.88% (FCT 4/17) to a high of 65.08% (FCT 14). Cumulative impact to FCT 13 (the most significant FCT) is 56.10%.
Blue Hills PEC
The estimated cumulative impact on the PEC from the combined SMC operations is 1.6%.
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6 CONCLUSIONS The five significant flora species located within the Infrastructure Areas also occur outside the Infrastructure Areas in large numbers and the local significance of the recorded plants is rated as low to high. Based on the records from the wider area (i.e. Gindalbie and SMC tenements), impact to the significant flora species from the new Infrastructure Areas is estimated to be less than 7%. Cumulative impact to Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened) and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (Priority 1) from SMC’s pre-approved and new Infrastructure Areas is estimated to be less than 10%. Cumulative impact from SMC and Gindalbie operations to Acacia woodmaniorum (Threatened) and Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (Priority 1) is estimated to be 12.59% and 68.82% respectively.
Impact to the FCTs in the new Infrastructure Areas (calculated using the area mapped within SMC’s tenements alone i.e. the local area) is less than 10%. When impacts are calculated based on the wider area they are less than 3% (excluding the degraded area).
Cumulative impact from SMC’s operations to each of the FCTs mapped within SMC’s tenements is below 16%,. When calculated based on the wider area the impact to each is less than 5%.
Cumulative impact from both SMC and Gindalbie operations range from 5.88% to 65.08%.
Impact to the Priority 1 PEC from proposed and approved SMC operations is estimated to be 1.6%.
Vegetation condition in the Infrastructure Areas is considered to be Degraded to Very Good and the effects of goats and earlier exploration and mining activities are apparent.
Given the conservation significance of the vegetation and flora species of the Infrastructure Areas and surrounds, SMC should adhere to the management measures detailed in its Environmental Management Plan for the Blue Hills project. SMC should pay particular attention to: demarcation of clearing boundaries, the use of a ground disturbance permitting system, dust suppression measures, weed control procedures, restrictions on off road driving and fire prevention measures.
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7 PROJECT TEAM The survey, plant identifications and reporting were carried out by the botanists listed in Table 7.1.
Table 7.1: Project Team
Project Team
Name Qualification Project Role DEC Flora License Number
Scott Hitchcock BSc Botanist – field and report SL009425 (exp. April 2012)
Melissa Hay BSc Botanist - field SL009572 (exp. July 2012)
Botanist - field and Pali Jayasekara PhD SL009424 (exp. April 2012) taxonomist
Rochelle Haycock BSc Botanist - report Not applicable
Christina Cox PhD Botanist - report Not applicable
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8 REFERENCES Australian Government (2011). Weeds in Australia. About Weeds. Weeds of National Significance. Available: http://www.weeds.gov.au/weeds/lists/wons.html. Accessed: October, 2011.
Beard, J.S. (1976). Vegetation Survey of Western Australia - Murchison. Explanatory Notes and Map Sheet 5, 1:1,000,000 series. Vegetation Survey of Western Australia. University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands.
Bennett Consulting Ecologists (2004). Vegetation and Flora of Blue Hills. Prepared for ATA Environmental, on behalf of Midwest Corporation.
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) (2010). Pre-European Vegetation – Western Australia (NVIS compliant version). Department of Agriculture and Food, Perth, Western Australia. February, 2010.
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) (2011). Department of Agriculture and Food, Declared Plants of Western Australia, April 2011. Available: http://agspsrv95.agric.wa.gov.au/dps/version02/01_plantsearch.asp
Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) (1999). The Environmental Weed Strategy for Western Australia.
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (2010). Definitions, Categories and Criteria for Threatened and Priority Ecological Communities. Available: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/849/1210/. Accessed: October, 2011.
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (2011a). NatureMap. Available: http://naturemap.dec.wa.gov.au/default.aspx. Accessed: June – October, 2011.
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (2011b). Conservation Codes for Western Australian Flora. Available: http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/conservation taxa.
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (2011c). National weed lists. Weeds of National Significance. Available: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/5495/2278/. Accessed: October, 2011.
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (2011d). What is a weed and why are they a problem? Available: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/5494/2277/. Accessed: November, 2011.
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (2011e). Invasive Plant Prioritisation Process for DEC. Available: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6295/2275/1/1/. Accessed: November, 2011.
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (2011f). DEC Midwest Region – Weed Assessment October 2008. Available: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6295/2358/1/1/.
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (2011g). WA’s threatened and priority ecological communities list 2011. Available at: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/849/1210/. Accessed: November 2011.
Department of Environment and Water Resources (DEWR) (2007). Australian Weeds Strategy – A national strategy for weed management in Australia. Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (2006), Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Canberra ACT.
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Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) (2011a). Protected Matters Search Tool. Available: http://www.environment.gov.au/arcgis- framework/apps/pmst/pmst.jsf.
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) (2011b). Threatened species under the EPBC Act. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species.html.
Ecologia (2007). Blue Hills Rare and Priority Flora Survey. Unpublished Report for SMC.
Ecologia (2008a). Koolanooka Hills / Blue Hills Flora and Vegetation Survey. Unpublished Report for SMC.
Ecologia (2008b). Koolanooka (M70/1012) and Blue Hills (M59/596) Hydrological Drilling Programme: Targeted Rare and Priority Flora Survey. Unpublished Report for SMC.
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) (2009). Statement that a Proposal may be Implemented (Pursuant to Provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986). Koolanooka/Blue Hills Direct Shipping Iron Ore Mining Project, Shires of Morawa and Perenjori. Ministerial Statement 811, November 2009. Environmental Protection Authority, Perth, Western Australia.
Executive Steering Committee for Australian Vegetation Information (ESCAVI) (2003). Australian Vegetation Attribute Manual: National Vegetation Information System, Version 6.0. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.
FloraBase (2012). Western Australian Herbarium FloraBase website [online]. Available: http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/. Accessed: June, July, August, September, October, November 2011 and March, 2012.
Government of Western Australia (2000). Bush Forever, Volume 2. Directory of Bush Forever Sites, 2000, Government of Western Australia.
Government of Western Australia (2010). CAR Analysis Report 2009. Accessed [June] [2011]. WA Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth. Available: https://www2.landgate.wa.gov.au/slip/portal/services/files/carreserveanalysis2009.xls.
Government of Western Australia (2012). Wildlife Conservation (Rare Flora) Notice 2012. Government Gazette, WA. No. 23 February 17, 2012, pp 747 - 753.
Markey, A.S. & Dillon, S.J. (2008). Flora and Vegetation of the Banded Ironstone Formations of the Yilgarn Craton: the central Tallering System. Conservation Science W. Aust. 7 (1): 121-149.
Maslin, B. R. & Buscumb, C. (2007). Two new Acacia species (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) from banded ironstone ranges in the Midwest region of south-west Western Australia. Nuytsia 17: 263-272.
Payne, A.L., Van Vreeswyk, A.M.E., Pringle, H.J.R., Leighton, K.A., & Hennig, P. (1998). An Inventory and Condition Survey of the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find Area, Western Autralia. Technical Bulletin No. 90. Department of Agriculture, South Perth, Western Australia.
Rye, B.L. (2007). Micromyrtus trudgenii (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae), a new species from the Blue Hill Range area of south-western Australia. Nuytsia 17: 323-330.
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Smith, M.G. (2010). Declared Rare and Priority Flora List for Western Australia, 16 September 2010. Dept of Environment and Conservation. Como, W.A.
Woodman Environmental Consulting (2008). Gindalbie Metals Ltd.: Karara – Mungada Project Survey Area Flora and Vegetation. May 2008.
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SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
9 FIGURES
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470000 475000 480000 485000 490000 495000 500000 ± 6785000 6785000
Geraldton Map Area Morawa KoolanookaPerenjori 6780000 6780000 Survey Area
M59/595
M59/596 6775000 6775000 6770000 6770000 6765000 6765000
470000 475000 480000 485000 490000 495000 500000
Figure: 9.1 Prepared for: SMC General Location of Blue Hills Survey Area SMC Tenements Drawn by: SH Blue Hills PEC (P1) Boundary 02± .5 Version: 1 Kilometres Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 488000
M59/596 6776000 6776000 M59/595
Previously Approved Areas
Infrastructure Areas
Tenements
Blue Hills PEC (P1) Boundary
488000 Figure: 9.2 Prepared for: SMC Blue Hills Mungada West and Drawn by: SH East Survey Areas 0 ± 150 Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 486000 488000 490000
El
El MnEw El Tr
Aan Mu Tr
Ele El AaPo M59/595 Tr El Arr Deg El Tr ApCp ApCp El Tr Tr AaPo El
El Tr El
Ele Ew 6776000 6776000 ApCp
Ma El MaEL
EL M59/596
Arr
El
El
Ek 6774000 6774000
Arr Arr
486000 488000 490000
Figure: 9.3 Bennett's Vegetation Mapping (For Descriptions of the Vegetation Codes Prepared for: SMC SMC Tenements 03± 00 Refer to Table 2.4, Section 2) Drawn by: SH SMC Tenements Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 486000 488000 490000
8 3 16 11/9 11/9 16 1a 14 1a 8 14 12 14 11 14 10a 12 11
13 14 13 3 14 14
D 4/17 1a/2 D D 1a
1a M59/595 1a/2 6776000 6776000
7c 3 1b 8 1b 15 7b M59/596
1b
2 Previously Approved Areas 6774000 6774000 Infrastructure Areas 4/17
SMC Tenements
486000 488000 490000
Figure: 9.4 Woodman's Vegetation Mapping (For Descriptions of the Vegetation Codes Prepared for: SMC 03± 00 Refer to Table 2.5, Section 2) Drawn by: SH SMC Tenements Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 487000 488000 489000 6777000 6777000
M59/596 6776000 6776000 M59/595
Acacia woodmaniorum (T)
Previously Approved Areas
Infrastructure Areas
SMC Tenements
487000 488000 489000 Figure: 9.5a Acacia woodmaniorum Recorded in Prepared for: SMC 0 ± 200 Drawn by: SH Infrastructure Areas Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 487000 488000 489000 6777000 6777000
M59/596 6776000 6776000 M59/595
Acacia woodmaniorum (T)
Previously Approved Areas
Infrastructure Areas
SMC Tenements
487000 488000 489000
Figure: 9.5b Acacia woodmaniorum Recorded in Prepared for: SMC 02± 00 Drawn by: SH Infrastructure Areas Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 487000 488000 6777000 6777000
M59/596
Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (P1) M59/595 6776000 6776000 Drummondita fulva (P3)
Micromyrtus trudgenii (P3)
Persoonia pentasticha (P3)
Previously Approved Areas
Infrastructure Areas
SMC Tenements
487000 488000
Figure: 9.6a Priority Flora Recorded Inside the Prepared for: SMC 02± 00 Drawn by: SH Infrastructure Areas Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 487000 488000 6777000 6777000
M59/596
Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (P1) M59/595 6776000 6776000 Drummondita fulva (P3)
Micromyrtus trudgenii (P3)
Persoonia pentasticha (P3)
Previously Approved Areas
Infrastructure Areas
SMC Tenements
487000 488000
Figure: 9.6b Priority Flora Recorded Inside the Prepared for: SMC 02± 00 Drawn by: SH Infrastructure Areas Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 488000
M59/596
^_ ^_ ^_
M59/595 6776000 6776000
^_ Echium plantagineum (Declared Plant)
^_ *Arctotheca calendula
*Brassica tournefortii
Previously Approved Areas
Infrastructure Areas
SMC Tenements
488000
Figure: 9.7a Prepared for: SMC Weed Species Recorded Within the Infrastructure 02± 00 Drawn by: SH and Previously Approved Areas Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 488000
M59/596
^_ ^_ ^_
M59/595 6776000 6776000
^_ Echium plantagineum (Declared Plant)
^_ *Arctotheca calendula
*Brassica tournefortii
Previously Approved Areas
Infrastructure Areas
SMC Tenements
488000
Figure: 9.7b Prepared for: SMC Weed Species Recorded Within the Infrastructure 02± 00 Drawn by: SH and Previously Approved Areas Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 486000 488000 490000 492000
6776000 M59/595 6776000
M59/596
Acacia woodmaniorum (T) Infrastructure Areas 6774000 6774000 SMC Tenements Previously Approved Areas
486000 488000 490000 492000 Figure: 9.8a Prepared for: SMC Acacia woodmaniorum (T) Recorded in the Wider Area 0 ± 500 Drawn by: SH Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 486000 488000 490000 492000
6776000 M59/595 6776000
M59/596
Acacia woodmaniorum (T) Infrastructure Areas 6774000 6774000 SMC Tenements Previously Approved Areas
486000 488000 490000 492000 Figure: 9.8b Prepared for: SMC Acacia woodmaniorum (T) Recorded in the Wider Area Drawn by: SH 05± 00 Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 486000 488000 490000 492000 6776000 6776000 M59/595
M59/596
Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (P1) Drummondita fulva (P3) Micromyrtus trudgenii (P3) 6774000 6774000 Persoonia pentasticha (P3) Infrastructure Areas SMC Tenements Previously Approved Areas
486000 488000 490000 492000
Figure: 9.9a Prepared for: SMC Priority Flora Recorded in the Wider Area 06± 25 Drawn by: SH Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 486000 488000 490000 492000
M59/595
6776000 M59/596 6776000
Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (P1) Drummondita fulva (P3) Micromyrtus trudgenii (P3) 6774000 6774000 Persoonia pentasticha (P3) Infrastructure Areas SMC Tenements Previously Approved Areas
486000 488000 490000 492000
Figure: 9.9b Prepared for: SMC Priority Flora Recorded in the Wider Area 06± 25 Drawn by: SH Metres Version: 1 Datum: GDA 1994, MGA 50 SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Appendix 1: Results of Database and Literature Searches
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Table A1.1: Conservation Significant Flora Species at and in the Vicinity of Blue Hills (Mungada West and East) Nearest Recorded Locations Possibility of Species Rank Flowering Habitat Source (FloraBase, 2011) Occurrence North of Wongan Hills, Chiddarcooping Nature Reserve, Barnong Conservation Park, West of Mullewa –Wubin Road, Pindar, South-East of Pithara, Geelakin Rock, South EPBC Act EPBC Act September to of and Mukinbudin, West- Endangered Granitic soils, sandy loam. Protected Eremophila viscida North-West Bullfinch, North of Unlikely and WC Act November Stony gullies, sandplains. Matters Search and Westonia, West of Schedule 1 Tool Merredin, North-North-West of Latham, North-East of Carnamah, between Tardun and Wilroy, Baandee, Koorda, Kondut, Nungarin, Ballidu, Boodarockin, Kununoppin,
Clay, rocky loam clay. Small dry EPBC Act creekline with rocky red/brown EPBC Act Critically loam over greenstone. Mount Gibson, Mount Protected May to July Unlikely Hybanthus cymulosus Endangered Drainage line on slope to rocky Singleton, Ninghan, Wubin. Matters Search and WC Act hills, dolerite, banded Tool Schedule 1 ironstone. Loamy soil on plain.
North of Wubin, West of Bunjil, EPBC Act West of Mullewa-Wubin Road, EPBC Act Critically July to Protected Sandy soils. Plains. Maya, Buntine, Caron Nature Unlikely Pityrodia axillaris Endangered December Reserve, South-South-East of Matters Search and WC Act Perenjori, Latham, Lake Moore, Tool Schedule 1 Pithara, Gnangara.
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SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Nearest Recorded Locations Possibility of Species Rank Flowering Habitat Source (FloraBase, 2011) Occurrence NM, ecologia Skeletal red silt, red-brown soil, Numerous (2007), Markey & Mungada Ridge (Karara Station, WC Act banded ironstone, laterite. locations Dillon (2008), Lochada Station), Jasper Hill, Acacia woodmaniorum Schedule 1, July Slopes, sides of hills, crests of recorded within Woodman Windaning Hill (Blue Hills T ridges, ranges, disturbed the area Environmental Range). overburden of mine sites. surveyed. Consultants (2008) Wialki, John Forest Lookout, Badja Station, Ninghan, Morawa, Beacon, North of WC Act August and Koorda, N Kadji Kadji, Emu Eucalyptus synandra Schedule 1, December to Sandy & lateritic soils. Possible NM Fence Track (Karara Station), T March Mount Gibson, Mount Marshall, Karroun Hill, Jingymia, Gutha. WC Act Karara Station, Warriedar Stylidium sp. Yalgoo (D. September to Granite outcrop, possibly on NM, Woodman Schedule 1, Station, Badja Station, Possible Coultas et al. Opp 01) October shalestone/ironstone outcrops. (2008) T Mungada Ridge, Golden Grove. Slopes of brown clay loam over Mount Mulgine, Warriedar Acacia sulcaticaulis P1 Not Available granite and quartz, greenstone. Unlikely NM Station. Rocky creekline. Plain – red clay, slopes of Mount Mulgine, Warriedar Chamelaucium sp. brown clay loam over basalt, Station, Karara Station, North- Warriedar (A.P. Brown P1 Not Available rocky hill with skeletal silty clay Unlikely NM West of Paynes Find, North- & S. Patrick APB 1100) loam over granite/greenstone, East of Perenjori. dolerite hill slope. NM, Woodman Chamelaucium sp. Yalgoo, South of Yalgoo, Environmental Yalgoo (Y. Chadwick P1 Not Available Granite outcrops. Unlikely Wurarga. Consultants 1816) (2008) Deep yellow to orange sand. Eucalyptus jutsonii P1 Not Available Broad and subdued rises high in Karara Station. Unlikely NM subsp. kobela the landscape. maia Page 58
SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Nearest Recorded Locations Possibility of Species Rank Flowering Habitat Source (FloraBase, 2011) Occurrence Mount Barloweerie, Wooleen NM, Markey & Station, South of Murchsison Dillon (2008), Banded ironstone slopes, River (Mullewa-Murchison Woodman Gunniopsis divisa P1 August laterite, loam, quartz. Settlement Road), Mungada, Possible Environmental Roadsides. Jack Hills, Mount Karara, Consultants Woolgorong Station, Murgoo (2008) Station, Meeberrie. Warriedar-Coppermine Road, Hydrocotyle sp. Red loam. Along creek Yalgoo, Blue Hills, Mount Warriedar (P.G. Wilson P1 September embankment, rocky valley Unlikely NM Gibson Sanctuary, Warriedar 12267) floor. Station. Breakaway, laterite and NM, Woodman Lepidosperma sp. Blue sandstone. Creek bank. Located in the Charles Darwin Reserve, Mount Environmental Hills (A. Markey & S. P1 Not Available Granite outcrop. Slope of vicinity of the Karara. Consultants Dillon 3468) laterised haematite and banded Survey Area (2008) ironstone. NM, Markey & Likely, previously Dillon (2008), Red loamy soils. Dolerite, Koolanooka Hills, Perenjori recorded on the Woodman Millotia dimorpha P1 September haematite and banded Hills, Mount Karara, Kadji Kadji, flats between Environmental ironstone slope. hills Consultants (2008) Mungada, Koolanooka Hills, NM, Markey & Blue Hills Range, Yandanoo Dillon (2008), Loam. Rocky hills. Banded Likely, previously August to Hills, Jasper Hill, Windaning Woodman Rhodanthe collina P1 ironstone slopes, haematite, recorded in the October Hill, Warriedar Station, Environmental quartz, laterite. area Mongers Lake, Mount Gibson, Consultants Mingenew Hill. (2008) Mount Mulgine, Warriedar Acacia diallaga P2 Not Available Hillslopes, basalt outcropping. Possible NM Station, Karara Station. Mount Gibson, Karara Ridge, Likely, located in NM, Markey & Red-brown silty clay loam with Mount Mulgine, Karara Station, the vicinity of the Dillon (2008), ironstone pebbles, banded Acacia karina P2 Not Available Damperwah Hills, John Forrest Study Area on Woodman ironstone, shalestone. Rocky Lookout, Warriedar Station, the southern Environmental slopes. Mungada Ridge, Windaning slopes of Consultants maia Page 59
SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Nearest Recorded Locations Possibility of Species Rank Flowering Habitat Source (FloraBase, 2011) Occurrence Hill, Wylacoppin Hill, Mount Mungada East (2008) Singleton. Mungada, North-East of Shallow brown clay, often Mukinbudin, Yanneymooning November to gritty, derived from eroded NM, Woodman Calandrinia kalanniensis P2 Nature Reserve, Petrudor Unlikely January granite. Rocky outcrops, herb (2008) Rocks, Hughden Rock, Xantippe fields. Rock. Gentle slope. Red brown clay Calandrinia sp. South of Mt Warriedar, loam (shallow gritty with some Warriedar (F. Obbens P2 Not Available Warriedar Station, Karara Possible NM lateritic stones). Granite 04/09) Station. basement rock. Charles Darwin Reserve, Yandanoo Hills, Windaning Hill, NM, Markey & Granite breakaway. Hillcrest of Koolanooka Hills, Beverley Dillon (2008), banded ironstone, haematite September to Airfiels Reserve, Dalwallinu Woodman Austrostipa blackii P3 and sedimentary rocks. Possible November Town Reserve, Tutanning Environmental Seasonal creekline. Plain with Nature Reserve, Consultants brown loam. Basalt Hill. Widgiemooltha, Ennuin Station, (2008) Hunt Range, Jaurdi Station. Emu Fence Road, Kawana Granite breakaway. Homestead, Crown reserve Bossiaea sp. Jackson Laterite/duricrust breakaway. between Karara and Warriedar Range (G. Cockerton & P3 Not Available Unlikely NM Red sandy loam soil. Banded Stations, Charles Darwin S. McNee LCS 13614) ironstone hill. Reserve, Mt Jackson Range, White Wells Homestead. Mount Richardson, Karara NM, Markey & Station, Charles Darwin Dillon (2008), Calotis sp. Perrinvale Banded ironstone outcrop, Reserve, Golden Grove, Gnows Woodman Station (R.J. Cranfield P3 Not Available slope and hillcrest. Granite Nest Range, Badja Station (Blue Possible Environmental 7096) slope. Hills Range), Minjar Hill, Mount Consultants Karara, Jasper Hill, Windaning (2008) Hill, Perrinvale Station, Cue. White or red sand, sandy clay. Bulga Downs Station, Wanjarri August to Markey & Dillon Calytrix uncinata P3 Granite or sandstone Nature Reserve, Leinster, Possible November (2008) breakaways, rocky rises. Gnows Nest Range, South-West maia Page 60
SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Nearest Recorded Locations Possibility of Species Rank Flowering Habitat Source (FloraBase, 2011) Occurrence Banded ironstone and laterite. of Wiluna, Murdaburia Hill, Booylgoo Range, Joyners Find Greenstone Belt, Yakabindie Station, Blue Hills Range, North of Meekatharra, Golden Grove, Cogla Downs Station, Maranalgo Station, Mount Keith, Nambi Station, Youno Downs, Teutonic, Mount Magnet. Badja Station, Moonagin Hills, Bimbijy Station, Mourobra, August to Red loam. Flat granite outcrops. Cyanicula fragrans P3 Mount Singleton, Lake Moore, Unlikely NM September Creekline. West-South-West of Paynes Find. Mount Mulgine, Warriedar Station, Shark Bay, Muggon Station, Eurardy Station, East of Pindar, Byro Station, Burnerbinmah Station, North- November to Red sand. Yellow sand. Dicrastylis linearifolia P3 West of Murchison Settlement, Unlikely NM December Sandplain. Toolonga Nature Reserve, Meka Station, Iona Station, South of Billabong Roadhouse, Meadow Station, North of Overlander Roadhouse, Binnu, NM, Markey & Skeletal, shallow, acidic soils of Windaning Hill, Oxiana Golden Dillon (2008), orange-red or red-brown sandy September to Grove, Badja Station, Minjar Located in the Woodman Drummondita fulva P3 loams and clayey silts. October Hill, Warriedar Station, Jasper Study Area. Environmental Footslopes, lower to upper Hill, Lochada Station. Consultants slopes and hillcrests. (2008) Damperwah Hills, Fields Find, ecologia (2007), January, June Grevillea globosa P3 Red loam, yellow sand. Mungada, Mt Karara, Golden Unlikely NM, Woodman and November Grove, Gossan Hill, Wuraga Environmental maia Page 61
SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Nearest Recorded Locations Possibility of Species Rank Flowering Habitat Source (FloraBase, 2011) Occurrence Road, Yuin, South-West of Consultants Paynes Find, Pindar, South- (2008) West of Yalgoo. Bullajungadeah Hills, Mt ecologia (2007), Gibson, Mungada, Minjar, In gravelly soil, or loam, or clay; NM, Woodman Ninghan Station, Mount Grevillea scabrida P3 July occupying ironstone gravelly Possible Environmental Singleton, Fields Find, Karara plain, winter-wet areas. Consultants Station, Mount Mulgine, North (2008) of Wubin, Red-brown loam. Bouldery Warriedar Station, Minjar, NM, Woodman slope. Valley floor. Brown Mount Singleton, Mount April and July to Environmental Grevillea subtiliflora P3 loam over dolerite slope. Gibson Station, South-West of Unlikely September Consultants Undulating plain with red clay Paynes Find, North of Wubin, (2008) loam. Paynes Find. Charles Darwin Reserve, Badja Station, Perenjori Hills, Mount Karara, Red Hill, North-East of Sandy loam. Slope. Hillcrest of Narembeen, North-West of haematite and quartz. Hillslope Bencubbin, East of Nungarin, NM, Markey & and crest of banded ironstone. North of Cunderdin, Kalannie, Dillon (2008), Gunniopsis rubra P3 September Possible Close to valley bottom. Base of Quairading Shire Reserve, Woodman granitic breakaway. White Dalwallinu Town Reserve, (2008) sandy soils. Buntine Nature Reserve, Snake Gully Nature Reserve, Lake Champion Nature Reserve, Ennuin. Mullewa, West of Dalwallinu, Perenjori Hills, Mungada, Yellow-brown sand or red- Woodman Koolanooka Hills, West of brown clay loam. Roadside Environmental Melaleuca barlowii P3 April Pindar, East of Latham, West- Possible reserves, shrubland. Hillslope of Consultants North-West of Morawa, banded ironstone and dolerite. (2008) Yandanooka, Tardun, Karara Station, Kalannie, Carnamah.
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SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Nearest Recorded Locations Possibility of Species Rank Flowering Habitat Source (FloraBase, 2011) Occurrence ecologia (2007), Mount Mulgine, Pinyalling Hill, Likely, recorded Markey & Dillon Grey-tan silty fine to coarse Damperwah Hills, Warriedar in large numbers (2008), NM, sand, laterite, granite. Rock Station, Jasper Hill, Windaning on the crest and Micromyrtus acuta P3 July to October Woodman outcrops. Ironstone and Hill, Lake Monger Lookout, weathered Environmental banded ironstone hillslopes. White Wells Station, South- slopes of Consultants West of Paynes Find. Mungada East. (2008) ecologia (2007, Karara Station, Mt Mulgine, St 2008), NM, Red-brown loamy clay, yellow- Patricks, Arsenic Hill, Mungada, Markey & Dillon brown soils, gravel, siltstone, Badja Station, Minjar Hill, Located in the (2008), Micromyrtus trudgenii P3 June to October quartz, basalt, banded Warreidar Station, Jasper Hill, Study Area. Woodman ironstone, dolerite. Tops and Golden Grove, Gossan Hill, Environmental slopes of hills and ridges. West of Paynes Find. Consultants (2008) Morawa, Charles Darwin Reserve, Barrabarra Nature Bennett (2004), Reserve, Mt Gibson, ecologia (2007), Sand, loam. Base of granite Damperwah Hills, Mugga Markey & Dillon outcrops. Rocky slopes of Mugga Hill, Mungada, Badja August to Located in the (2008), NM, Persoonia pentasticha P3 haematite and laterite. Station, Koolanooka Hills, November Study Area. Woodman Drainage line. Hillslope of Extension Hill, Warriedar Environmental banded ironstone and laterite. Station, Minjar, East Yuna Consultants Reserve, West Perenjori Nature (2008) Reserve, Pindar, Morawa, North of Wubin. Yilgarn, Damperwah Hills, Karara Station, Lochada Station, North of Cue, Decaying & dissected granite Petrophile pauciflora P3 September Woolgorong, North of Mount Unlikely NM breakaways. Magnet, Kalli Station, Pindarbunna Station, Bimbijy Station, South-East of Mileura. Red clay loam between blocks Warriedar Station, Arsenic Hill, Markey & Dillon Polianthion collinum P3 May to July Possible of banded ironstone. Low hills Mungada, Windaning Hill, (2008), NM, maia Page 63
SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Nearest Recorded Locations Possibility of Species Rank Flowering Habitat Source (FloraBase, 2011) Occurrence and slopes. Karara Station, Gossan Hill. Woodman Environmental Consultants (2008) Charles Darwin Reserve, Karara Station, Jasper Hill, Mullewa, ecologia (2007), August to Stony rises. Banded ironstone Psammomoya implexa P3 Pintharuka, Lake Mollerin Possible Markey & Dillon October and laterite slope. Nature Reserve, Gabyon (2008), NM Station, Ninghan, Wilroy. Hospital Rocks, Diemals Station, Pigeon Rocks, Koolyanobbing RRange, North Spartothamnella sp. Plain with orange sandy loam. NM, Woodman Yerilgee Greenstone Belt, Helena & Aurora Range Slope of banded ironstone, Environmental P3 Not Available Johnston Range, Jackson Possible (P.G. Armstrong 155- calcrete and quartz. Ironstone Consultants Range, Die Hardy Range, 109) range. Sandplain. (2008) Helena and Aurura Range, Remlap Station, Blue Hills Range. Charles Darwin Reserve, Mount Red clay or sandy clay, loam. Bennett (2004), Mulgine, Canna Reserve, May to June Yellow sandy loam flat. NM, Woodman Warriedar Station, Perenjori Stenanthemum poicilum P3 and September Creekline. Slope of basalt. Possible Environmental Hills, Koolanooka Hills, White to November Banded ironstone and chert Consultants Wells Station. Jasper Hill. outcrop. Haematite. (2008) Wilroy Reserve.
NM= NatureMap (DEC, 2011a), T = Threatened (Declared Rare) Species, P1 = Priority 1, P2 = Priority 2, P3 = Priority 3, P4 = Priority 4. Rows shaded grey indicate conservation significant species recorded within Infrastructure Areas.
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SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Appendix 2: Flora Species Recorded
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SMC: Blue Hills Mungada West and East (Tenements M59/595 and M59/596) Infrastructure Areas
Table A2.1: Species Recorded Within and in the Vicinity of the Infrastructure Areas
Infrastructure Family Species Other Surveys Areas Aizoaceae *Cleretum papulosum subsp. papulosum • Gunniopsis septifraga •
Tetragonia moorei • •
Amaranthaceae Ptilotus gaudichaudii • Ptilotus obovatus •
Ptilotus obovatus var. obovatus •
Apiaceae Daucus glochidiatus • Platysace cirrosa •
Xanthosia bungei •
Apocynaceae Alyxia buxifolia • Araliaceae Hydrocotyle pilifera var. glabrata • Trachymene ornata •
Asparagaceae Arthropodium dyeri • Chamaexeros macranthera • •
Thysanotus manglesianus •
Thysanotus speckii •
Asteraceae Actinobole uliginosum • *Arctotheca calendula • •
Bellida graminea •
Blennospora drummondii •
Brachyscome ciliaris •
Calocephalus knappii •
Calocephalus multiflorus •
Calotis hispidula • •
Calotis multicaulis •
Calotis sp. Perrinvale Station (R.J. Cranfield 7096) (P3) •
Feldstonia nitens •
Lawrencella rosea •
Lemooria burkittii •
Minuria cunninghamii •
Myriocephalus occidentalis •
Olearia pimeleoides •
Podolepis lessonii •
Pogonolepis muelleriana •
Rhodanthe polycephala •
Schoenia cassiniana • •
Schoenia filifolia subsp. filifolia •
Senecio glossanthus •
*Sonchus oleraceus •
Waitzia acuminata var. acuminata •
Boraginaceae Echium plantagineum (DP) • Boryaceae Borya sphaerocephala • Brassicaceae *Brassica tournefortii • Lepidium sp. •
Stenopetalum anfractum •
Campanulaceae Isotoma petraea • Lobelia winfridae •
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Infrastructure Family Species Other Surveys Areas Casuarinaceae Allocasuarina acutivalvis subsp. prinsepiana • Chenopodiaceae Enchylaena tomentosa • Maireana appressa •
Maireana glomerifolia •
Maireana thesioides •
Maireana villosa •
Rhagodia drummondii •
Rhagodia preissii •
Sclerolaena cuneata •
Sclerolaena densiflora •
Sclerolaena diacantha •
Colchicaceae Wurmbea densiflora • Cuscutaceae *Cuscuta planiflora • Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (A. Markey & S. Dillon Cyperaceae • • 3468) (P1) Dilleniaceae Hibbertia arcuata • Dioscoreaceae Dioscorea hastifolia • Droseraceae Drosera macrantha • Ericaceae Astroloma serratifolium • Euphorbiaceae Calycopeplus paucifolius • Fabaceae Acacia acuaria • Acacia acuminata •
Acacia aneura (Complex) •
Acacia anthochaera • •
Acacia assimilis subsp. assimilis •
Acacia aulacophylla •
Acacia coolgardiensis •
Acacia effusifolia •
Acacia exocarpoides •
Acacia kalgoorliensis •
Acacia karina (P2) •
Acacia longiphyllodinea • •
Acacia murrayana •
Acacia obtecta • •
Acacia quadrimarginea •
Acacia ramulosa var. linophylla •
Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa •
Acacia sibina •
Acacia stereophylla var. stereophylla •
Acacia tetragonophylla •
Acacia woodmaniorum (T) • •
Gastrolobium laytonii •
Mirbelia bursarioides •
Mirbelia depressa •
Mirbelia microphylla •
Mirbelia spinosa •
Senna artemisioides subsp. filifolia •
Senna glutinosa •
Senna stowardii •
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Infrastructure Family Species Other Surveys Areas Frankeniaceae Frankenia laxiflora • Geraniaceae *Erodium cicutarium • Erodium cygnorum •
Goodeniaceae Brunonia australis • Goodenia berardiana •
Goodenia occidentalis •
Scaevola spinescens •
Velleia discophora •
Haloragaceae Glischrocaryon flavescens • Hemerocallidaceae Dianella revoluta var. revoluta (RE) • Lamiaceae Hemigenia brachyphylla • Microcorys sp. Mt Gibson (S. Patrick 2098) •
Prostanthera althoferi subsp. althoferi •
Prostanthera campbellii •
Prostanthera magnifica •
Prostanthera patens •
Loranthaceae Amyema preissii • Malvaceae Brachychiton gregorii • Keraudrenia velutina subsp. velutina •
Sida sp. dark green fruit (S. van Leeuwen 2260) •
Sida sp. Golden calyces glabrous (H.N. Foote 32) •
Myrtaceae Aluta aspera subsp. hesperia • • Baeckea sp. Blue Hills (SOI) •
Eucalyptus ewartiana •
Eucalyptus kochii subsp. borealis •
Eucalyptus leptopoda subsp. arctata •
Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba •
Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. supralaevis •
Melaleuca acuminata •
Melaleuca leiocarpa •
Melaleuca nematophylla •
Melaleuca radula •
Melaleuca uncinata •
Micromyrtus acuta (P3) •
Micromyrtus trudgenii (P3) • •
Thryptomene costata •
Thryptomene cuspidata •
Thryptomene decussata •
Poaceae Austrostipa elegantissima • Austrostipa scabra •
Bromus arenarius •
Enneapogon caerulescens •
Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii •
*Lamarckia aurea •
*Pentaschistis airoides •
*Rostraria pumila •
Polygonaceae Muehlenbeckia florulenta • Portulacaceae Calandrinia eremaea • Calandrinia sp. Blackberry (D.M. Porter 171) •
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Infrastructure Family Species Other Surveys Areas Primulaceae *Lysimachia arvensis •
Proteaceae Grevillea acacioides • Grevillea eriostachya •
Grevillea extorris •
Grevillea nematophylla subsp. nematophylla •
Grevillea obliquistigma subsp. obliquistigma •
Hakea recurva subsp. recurva •
Persoonia pentasticha (P3) •
Pteridaceae Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia • Cheilanthes sieberi subsp. sieberi •
Rhamnaceae Cryptandra imbricata • Rutaceae Drummondita fulva (P3) • • Philotheca brucei subsp. brucei •
Philotheca deserti •
Philotheca deserti subsp. deserti • •
Philotheca sericea • •
Santalaceae Exocarpos aphyllus • Santalum acuminatum •
Sapindaceae Dodonaea adenophora • Dodonaea petiolaris • •
Dodonaea rigida •
Scrophulariaceae Eremophila clarkei • Eremophila exilifolia •
Eremophila glutinosa •
Eremophila latrobei subsp. latrobei •
Eremophila oppositifolia subsp. angustifolia • •
Eremophila serrulata •
Solanaceae Nicotiana cavicola • Solanum ellipticum •
Solanum lasiophyllum •
Solanum nummularium •
Solanum orbiculatum •
Stylidiaceae Levenhookia leptantha • Thymelaeaceae Pimelea microcephala subsp. microcephala • Urticaceae Parietaria cardiostegia •
Nomenclature as per Western Australian Herbarium, FloraBase website, November 2011. Note: T = Threatened (Declared Rare ) species, P1 = Priority 1 species, P3 = Priority 3 species, * = Environmental Weed, DP = Declared plant, RE = Range extension species.
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Appendix 3: Conservation Significance – Flora and Ecological Communities
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Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Table A3.1: Categories and definitions for Rare Flora
Category Definition
Extinct* A native species is eligible to be included in the extinct category if there is no reasonable doubt that the last member of the species has died. Extinct in the wild A native species is eligible to be included in the extinct in the wild category if: a) it is only known to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalized population well outside its past range; or b) if it has not been recorded in its known and/ or expected habitat, at appropriate seasons, anywhere in its past range, despite exhaustive surveys over a time frame appropriate to its life cycle and form.
Critically endangered A native species is eligible to be included in the critically endangered category if it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future, as determined in accordance with the prescribed criteria. Endangered A native species is eligible to be included in the endangered category if: a) if it is not critically endangered; and b) it is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future, as determined in accordance with the prescribed criteria.
Vulnerable A native species is eligible to be included in the vulnerable category if: a) if it is not critically endangered or endangered; and b) it is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium term future, as determined in accordance with the prescribed criteria. Conservation dependent* A native species is eligible to be included in the conservation dependent category if: a) the species is the focus of a specific conservation program the cessation of which would result in the species becoming vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered; or b) the following subparagraphs are satisfied; (i) the species is a species of fish; (ii) the species is the focus of a plan of management that provides for management actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of, the species so that its chances of long term survival in nature are maximised; (iii) the plan of management is in force under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory; (iv) cessation of the plan of management would adversely affect the conservation status of the species.
*Note: Species listed as ‘conservation dependent’ and ‘extinct’ are not matters of national environmental significance and therefore do not trigger the EPBC Act.
Source: DSEWPC, 2011b.
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Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 Table A3.2: Categories and definitions for Rare Flora
Category Definition
T: Threatened Flora Taxa which have been adequately searched for and are deemed to be in the wild either (Declared Rare Flora – rare, in danger of extinction, or otherwise in need of special protection, and have been Extant) gazetted as such (Schedule 1 under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950). Threatened Flora (Schedule 1) are further ranked by the Department according to their level of threat using IUCN Red List criteria:
CR: Critically Endangered – considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild EN: Endangered – considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild VU: Vulnerable – considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
X: Presumed Extinct Taxa Taxa which have been adequately searched for and there is no reasonable doubt that the (Declared Rare Flora – last individual has died, and have been gazetted as such (Schedule 2 under the Wildlife Extinct) Conservation Act 1950). Species that have not yet been adequately surveyed to be listed under Schedule 1 or 2 are added to the Priority Flora List under Priorities 1, 2 or 3. These three categories are ranked in order of priority for survey and evaluation of conservation status so that consideration can be given to their declaration as threatened flora or fauna. Species that are adequately known, are rare but not threatened, or meet criteria for Near Threatened, or that have been recently removed from the threatened list for other than taxonomic reasons, are placed in Priority 4. These species require regular monitoring. Conservation Dependent species are placed in Priority 5.
Source: DEC, 2011b.
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Table A3.3: Categories and definitions for Priority Flora
Category Definition
1: Priority One: Poorly-known Species that are known from one or a few collections or sight records species (generally less than five), all on lands not managed for conservation, e.g. agricultural or pastoral lands, urban areas, Shire, Westrail and Main Roads WA road, gravel and soil reserves, and active mineral leases and under threat of habitat destruction or degradation. Species may be included if they are comparatively well known from one or more localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements and appear to be under immediate threat from known threatening processes.
2: Priority Two: Poorly-known Species that are known from one or a few collections or sight records, some species of which are on lands not under imminent threat of habitat destruction or degradation, e.g. national parks, conservation parks, nature reserves, State forest, vacant Crown land, water reserves, etc. Species may be included if they are comparatively well known from one or more localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements and appear to be under threat from known threatening processes.
3: Priority Three: Poorly-known Species that are known from collections or sight records from several species localities not under imminent threat, or from few but widespread localities with either large population size or significant remaining areas of apparently suitable habitat, much of it not under imminent threat. Species may be included if they are comparatively well known from several localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements and known threatening processes exist that could affect them.
4: Priority Four: Rare, Near a. Rare. Species that are considered to have been adequately surveyed, or for Threatened and other species in which sufficient knowledge is available, and that are considered not currently need of monitoring threatened or in need of special protection, but could be if present circumstances change. These species are usually represented on conservation lands. b. Near Threatened. Species that are considered to have been adequately surveyed and that do not qualify for Conservation Dependent, but that are close to qualifying for Vulnerable. c. Species that have been removed from the list of threatened species during the past five years for reasons other than taxonomy.
5: Priority Five: Conservation Species that are not threatened but are subject to a specific conservation Dependent species program, the cessation of which would result in the species becoming threatened within five years. Source: DEC, 2011b.
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Table A3.4: Categories, definitions and criteria for Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC)
Category Definition and Criteria Presumed Totally Destroyed An ecological community that has been adequately searched for but for which no (PD) representative occurrences have been located. The community has been found to be totally destroyed or so extensively modified throughout its range that no occurrence of it is likely to recover its species composition and/or structure in the foreseeable future. An ecological community will be listed as presumed totally destroyed if there are no recent records of the community being extant and either of the following applies (A or B): A) Records within the last 50 years have not been confirmed despite thorough searches of known or likely habitats; or B) All occurrences recorded within the last 50 years have since been destroyed. Critically Endangered (CR) An ecological community that has been adequately surveyed and found to have been subject to a major contraction in area and/or that was originally of limited distribution and is facing severe modification or destruction throughout its range in the immediate future, or is already severely degraded throughout its range but capable of being substantially restored or rehabilitated. An ecological community will be listed as Critically Endangered when it has been adequately surveyed and is found to be facing an extremely high risk of total destruction in the immediate future. This will be determined on the basis of the best available information, by it meeting any one or more of the following criteria (A, B or C): A) The estimated geographic range, and/or total area occupied, and/or number of discrete occurrences since European settlement have been reduced by at least 90% and either or both of the following apply (i or ii): (i) geographic range, and/or total area occupied and/or number of discrete occurrences are continuing to decline such that total destruction of the community is imminent (within approximately 10 years); (ii) modification throughout its range is continuing such that in the immediate future (within approximately 10 years) the community is unlikely to be capable of being substantially rehabilitated. B) Current distribution is limited, and one or more of the following apply (I, ii or iii): (i) geographic range and/or number of discrete occurrences, and/or area occupied is highly restricted and the community is currently subject to known threatening processes which are likely to result in total destruction throughout its range in the immediate future (within approximately 10 years); (ii) there are very few occurrences, each of which is small and/or isolated and extremely vulnerable to known threatening processes; (iii) there may be many occurrences but total area is very small and each occurrence is small and/or isolated and extremely vulnerable to known threatening processes. C) The ecological community exists only as highly modified occurrences that may be capable of being rehabilitated if such work begins in the immediate future (within approximately 10 years).
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Category Definition and Criteria Endangered (EN) An ecological community that has been adequately surveyed and found to have been subject to a major contraction in area and/or was originally of limited distribution and is in danger of significant modification throughout its range or severe modification or destruction over most of its range in the near future. An ecological community will be listed as Endangered when it has been adequately surveyed and is not Critically Endangered but is facing a very high risk of total destruction in the near future. This will be determined on the basis of the best available information by it meeting any one or more of the following criteria (A, B, or C): A) The geographic range, and/or total area occupied, and/or number of discrete occurrences have been reduced by at least 70% since European settlement and either or both of the following apply (i or ii): (i) the estimated geographic range, and/or total area occupied and/or number of discrete occurrences are continuing to decline such that total destruction of the community is likely in the short term future (within approximately 20 years); (ii) modification throughout its range is continuing such that in the short term future (within approximately 20 years) the community is unlikely to be capable of being substantially restored or rehabilitated. B) Current distribution is limited, and one or more of the following apply (i, ii or iii): (i) geographic range and/or number of discrete occurrences, and/or area occupied is highly restricted and the community is currently subject to known threatening processes which are likely to result in total destruction throughout its range in the short term future (within approximately 20 years); (ii) there are few occurrences, each of which is small and/or isolated and all or most occurrences are very vulnerable to known threatening processes; (iii) there may be many occurrences but total area is small and all or most occurrences are small and/or isolated and very vulnerable to known threatening processes. C) The ecological community exists only as very modified occurrences that may be capable of being substantially restored or rehabilitated if such work begins in the short-term future (within approximately 20 years). Vulnerable (VU) An ecological community that has been adequately surveyed and is found to be declining and/or has declined in distribution and/or condition and whose ultimate security has not yet been assured and/or a community that is still widespread but is believed likely to move into a category of higher threat in the near future if threatening processes continue or begin operating throughout its range. An ecological community will be listed as Vulnerable when it has been adequately surveyed and is not Critically Endangered or Endangered but is facing a high risk of total destruction or significant modification in the medium to long-term future. This will be determined on the basis of the best available information by it meeting any one or more of the following criteria (A, B or C): A) The ecological community exists largely as modified occurrences that are likely to be capable of being substantially restored or rehabilitated. B) The ecological community may already be modified and would be vulnerable to threatening processes, is restricted in area and/or range and/or is only found at a
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Category Definition and Criteria few locations. C) The ecological community may be still widespread but is believed likely to move into a category of higher threat in the medium to long term future because of existing or impending threatening processes.
Possible threatened ecological communities that do not meet survey criteria or that are not adequately defined are added to the Priority Ecological Community Lists under Priorities 1, 2 and 3. These three categories are ranked in order of priority for survey and/or definition of the community, and evaluation of conservation status, so that consideration can be given to their declaration as threatened ecological communities. Ecological Communities that are adequately known, and are rare but not threatened or meet criteria for Near Threatened, or that have been recently removed from the threatened list, are placed in Priority 4. These ecological communities require regular monitoring. Conservation Dependent ecological communities are placed in Priority 5.
Table A3.5: Categories, definitions and criteria for Priority Ecological Communities (PEC)
Category Definition and Criteria
Priority One: Poorly-known Ecological communities with apparently few, small occurrences, all or most not ecological communities actively managed for conservation (e.g. within agricultural or pastoral lands, urban areas, active mineral leases) and for which current threats exist. Communities may be included if they are comparatively well-known from one or more localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements, and/or are not well defined, and appear to be under immediate threat from known threatening processes across their range. Priority Two: Poorly-known Communities that are known from few small occurrences, all or most of which are
ecological communities actively managed for conservation (e.g. within national parks, conservation parks, nature reserves, State forest, unallocated Crown land, water reserves, etc.) and not under imminent threat of destruction or degradation. Communities may be included if they are comparatively well known from one or more localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements, and/or are not well defined, and appear to be under threat from known threatening processes. Priority Three: Poorly-known (i) Communities that are known from several to many occurrences, a significant
ecological communities number or area of which are not under threat of habitat destruction or degradation or:
(ii) communities known from a few widespread occurrences, which are either large or within significant remaining areas of habitat in which other occurrences may occur, much of it not under imminent threat, or;
(iii) Communities made up of large, and/or widespread occurrences, that may or not be represented in the reserve system, but are under threat of modification across much of their range from processes such as grazing by domestic and/or feral stock, and inappropriate fire regimes.
Communities may be included if they are comparatively well known from several localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements and/or are not well
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Category Definition and Criteria
defined, and known threatening processes exist that could affect them.
Priority Four: Adequately Ecological communities that are adequately known, rare but not threatened or known ecological meet criteria for Near Threatened or that have been recently removed from the communities threatened list. These communities require regular monitoring.
(a) Rare. Ecological communities known from few occurrences that are considered to have been adequately surveyed, or for which sufficient knowledge is available, and that are considered not currently threatened or in need of special protection, but could be if present circumstances change. These communities are usually represented on conservation lands.
(b) Near Threatened. Ecological communities that are considered to have been adequately surveyed and that do not qualify for Conservation Dependent, but that are close to qualifying for Vulnerable.
(c) Ecological communities that have been removed from the list of threatened communities during the past five years.
Priority Five: Conservation Ecological communities that are not threatened but are subject to a specific Dependent ecological conservation program, the cessation of which would result in the community communities becoming threatened within five years.
Source for Tables A4.4 and A4.5: DEC, 2010.
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Appendix 4: Priority Flora Locations
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Table A4.1: Locations of Priority Flora Recorded within the Infrastructure Areas (GDA94, MGA50).
Easting Northing No. Species (mE) (mN) Plants Lepidosperma sp. Blue Hills (A. Markey & S. Dillon 3468) (P1) 488648 6776145 4 488662 6776145 1
Drummondita fulva (P3) 488169 6776594 1 488535 6776530 1
488545 6776567 1
488600 6776453 1
488601 6776449 1
488602 6776457 1
488604 6776440 7
488608 6776462 2
488609 6776461 1
488619 6776460 6
488619 6776468 7
488621 6776457 3
488622 6776456 2
488643 6776479 3
488646 6776469 1
488656 6776468 1
488662 6776465 3
488664 6776463 7
488775 6776541 2
488776 6776542 2
488779 6776537 2
Micromyrtus trudgenii (P3) 488551 6776584 26 488820 6776263 26
488537 6776128 26
486749 6776548 20
488297 6776523 3
488302 6776531 2
488528 6776498 6
488528 6776503 2
488528 6776505 8
488531 6776526 3
488533 6776526 2
488534 6776524 10
488536 6776517 1
488539 6776545 1
488542 6776563 6
488543 6776573 8
488544 6776580 1
488545 6776565 5
488545 6776573 8
488546 6776573 6
488554 6776578 1
488572 6776587 1
488576 6776589 3
488581 6776453 1
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Easting Northing No. Species (mE) (mN) Plants Micromyrtus trudgenii (P3) 488585 6776447 10 488588 6776596 1
488592 6776462 20
488594 6776598 6
488597 6776463 2
488597 6776596 6
488601 6776596 7
488602 6776457 3
488604 6776440 3
488604 6776445 6
488604 6776456 10
488605 6776473 3
488608 6776462 3
488609 6776446 10
488609 6776461 5
488613 6776451 30
488615 6776453 10
488619 6776460 20
488619 6776468 4
488622 6776456 10
488628 6776482 3
488633 6776591 6
488638 6776596 4
488646 6776469 2
488647 6776474 1
488651 6776465 2
488664 6776463 3
488671 6776478 6
488672 6776460 4
488676 6776463 2
488684 6776471 2
488693 6776465 6
488698 6776584 2
488706 6776468 6
488713 6776456 2
488720 6776579 1
488721 6776580 1
488727 6776570 1
488730 6776447 6
488734 6776566 1
488734 6776567 1
488738 6776564 2
488738 6776564 2
488746 6776448 8
488757 6776437 7
488767 6776549 6
488767 6776549 6
488767 6776553 5
488768 6776554 5
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Easting Northing No. Species (mE) (mN) Plants Micromyrtus trudgenii (P3) 488771 6776422 7 488775 6776546 15
488775 6776546 15
488779 6776537 15
488781 6776207 10
488790 6776206 6
488802 6776396 3
488803 6776524 10
488803 6776524 10
488813 6776519 1
488813 6776520 1
488815 6776378 3
488816 6776511 2
488817 6776511 2
488818 6776219 2
488819 6776371 2
488823 6776371 1
488824 6776262 3
488824 6776505 2
488824 6776505 2
488831 6776263 10
488833 6776350 5
488834 6776275 10
488835 6776342 4
488836 6776260 1
488836 6776346 3
488845 6776490 1
488845 6776490 1
488846 6776487 2
488862 6776479 1
488863 6776479 1
488892 6776448 5
488893 6776448 5
Persoonia pentasticha (P3) 488772 6776188 1 487507 6776319 10
Note: P1 = Priority 1 species, P3 = Priority 3 species.
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Appendix 5: Declared Plants Control Codes
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Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976
Table A5.1: Codes and controls for Declared Plants
Code Controls
Priority One – Prohibits movement The movement of plants or their seeds is prohibited within the State. This prohibits the movement of contaminated machinery and produce including livestock and fodder.
Priority Two – Aims to eradicate Treat all plants to destroy and prevent propagation each year until no infestation plants remain. The infested area must be managed in such a way that prevents the spread of seed or plant parts on or in livestock, fodder, grain, vehicles and /or machinery.
Priority Three - Aims to control infestation The infested area must be managed in such a way that prevents the by reducing area and/or density of spread of seed or plant parts within and from the property on or in infestation livestock, fodder, grain, vehicles and/or machinery. Treat to destroy and prevent seed set all plants: within 100 m inside of the boundaries of the infestation; within 50 m of roads and high water mark on waterways; within 50 m of sheds, stock yards and houses. Treatment must be done prior to seed set each year. Of the remaining infested area: Where plant density is 1-10 per ha treat 100% of infestation. Where plant density is 11-100 per ha treat 50% of infestation. Where plant density is 101-1000 per ha treat 10% of infestation. Properties with less than 2 ha of infestation must treat the entire infestation. Additional areas may be ordered to be treated. Priority Four - Aims to prevent infestation The infested area must be managed in such a way that prevents the spreading beyond existing boundaries of spread of seed or plant parts within and from the property on or in infestation livestock, fodder, grain, vehicles and/or machinery. Treat to destroy and prevent seed set all plants: within 100 m inside of the boundaries of the infested property; within 50 m of roads and high water mark on waterways; within 50 m of sheds, stock yards and houses. Treatment must be done prior to seed set each year. Properties with less than 2 ha of infestation must treat the entire infestation. Additional areas may be ordered to be treated.
Priority Five - Control on public land Infestations on public land must be controlled. Source: DAFWA, 2011.
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